CABINET OFFICE

Directgov

Andy Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the launch of the Directgov internet portal for Government services.

Jim Murphy: Launched in April 2004, Directgov is our flagship digital service, delivered by a partnership of 18 Government departments. Attracting over 1.3 million visits a month, it draws together services from across the public sector, making it easier for people to access information and transact with Government.

Civil Service Bill

Tony Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he expects to introduce legislation on the Civil Service.

John Hutton: The Government are considering the responses to the consultation. It will make a statement when it has completed its considerations.

National School of Government

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people have attended the finance for non-financial managers course run by the National School of Government, broken down by (a) year and (b) department.

John Hutton: The National School of Government runs two finance for non-financial managers courses. One for people in the Senior Civil Service and one for people up to Grade 7. The information requested in respect of these two courses has been placed in the Library.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Casinos

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications have been made to the Gaming Board for casino licences for each quarter since January 2004; what the outcome was of each application; whether applications were subject to separate planning permission applications resulting from a change in use class; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Gaming Board considers applications for Certificates of Consent for casinos. Once a Certificate of Consent is issued, operators can then apply to the Licensing Justices for a Gaming Licence.
	The table sets out the number of applications for Certificates of Consent that the Gaming Board has received since January 2004, and the current position on these applications. This includes applications for new casinos, and applications where there are significant changes to the ownership or fabric of existing casinos.
	Planning permission is not a pre-requisite for an application for a Certificate of Consent, or for a Certificate of Consent to be granted. The following table indicates, according to the Gaming Board's records, whether a planning application was also required in respect of the casino premises.
	
		
			  Applications received Applications determined Planning application required Planning application not required 
		
		
			 January-March 2004 4 4 4 0 
			 April-June 2004 4 (1)3 4 0 
			 July-September 2004 7 5 2 5 
			 October-December 2004 12 9 7 5 
			 January-March 2005 8 (2)4 2 6 
			 April-June 2005(3) 21 0 17 4 
			 Total 56 26 36 20 
		
	
	(1)One application withdrawn.
	(2)Two applications withdrawn.
	(3)At 17 June 2005.

Casinos

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions her Department has held with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the use class of casinos since 1 November 2004; at what level discussions occurred; when discussions took place; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Department has had regular contact with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the use class of casinos at both ministerial and official level since 1 November 2004, and will continue to do so.

EU Commission

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1058W, to question 5146, if she will place in the Library (a) the submission made to the EU Commission on 9 September 2004 and (b) the letter sent to the EU Commission in March.

Richard Caborn: In view of current advice from European Commission officials we do not intend to release this documentation into the public domain until the completion of the Commission's Investigation under article 88(2) of the treaty.
	Following the closure of the investigation, or if we receive express permission from the Commission before that date, I will make these documents, subject to commercial confidentiality, available to the Library of the House.

Free Television Licences (Northern Ireland)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many households in each constituency in Northern Ireland are in receipt of the free television licence for over-75s.

James Purnell: TV Licensing, who administer free television licences for people aged-75 or over as agents for the BBC, are not able to provide geographical breakdowns of the number of free licences issued. However, the Northern Ireland Department for Social Development has estimated that the number of benefit units claiming the retirement pension, where at least one person in that unit is aged 75-years or over, in each parliamentary constituency in Northern Ireland, is:
	
		
			   Parliamentary constituency Retirement pension benefit units with at least one person aged-75 or over. 
		
		
			 Belfast East 5819 
			 Belfast North 5294 
			 Belfast South 5018 
			 Belfast West 3586 
			 East Antrim 4053 
			 East Londonderry 3952 
			 Fermanagh And South Tyrone 4068 
			 Foyle 3442 
			 Lagan Valley 4790 
			 Mid Ulster 3531 
			 Newry And Armagh 4356 
			 North Antrim 5269 
			 North Down 5517 
			 South Antrim 3986 
			 South Down 4765 
			 Strangford 4707 
			 Upper Bann 4479 
			 West Tyrone 3499 
			 Missing Postcode 1200 
			 Total 81331 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The data source is an un-validated scan of the pension service computer system at 4 June 2005. Not all households in Northern Ireland containing a person aged-75 or over will appear on the scan, since not all pensioners are entitled to the retirement pension.
	2. In producing this analysis, individual records were attributed to parliamentary constituencies (PC's) on the basis of their postcode. Not all records can be correctly allocated to a PC using this method, and some cannot be allocated at all.

Gaelic Language

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to implement the undertakings of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in relation to the Gaelic language and if she will ensure that the recommendations of the last Committee of Experts report are adopted.

James Purnell: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The steps taken by the UK Government to implement the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages are set out in periodic reports. The first such report was published on 1 July 2002 and is available on the Council of Europe website at http://www.coe.int and the second is due to be sent to the Council of Europe on 1 July 2005 and should be available shortly thereafter: copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House. These reports cover my Departmental responsibilities.
	The recommendations of the Committee of Ministers, based on the findings of the Committee of Experts which evaluated the UK's compliance with the charter, were that the authorities of the United Kingdom facilitate the establishment of a television channel or an equivalent television service in Scottish Gaelic and overcome the shortcomings in Scottish Gaelic radio broadcasting.
	Since the charter came into force on 1 July 2001, the Government have brought forward provisions, enacted in the Communications Act 2003, changing the status of the Gaelic broadcasting funding body, now called the Gaelic Media Service (CMS), to allow it for the first time to hold a broadcasting licence. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has also committed herself to seeking a better deal for Gaelic broadcasting and my Department have been working with all the interested parties to put together a sustainable strategy for Gaelic television. We have also confirmed, in the Green Paper on BBC Charter Review of March 2005, that the BBC will have a key role to play in any future channel. Furthermore, although funding responsibility were devolved to the Scottish Executive as part of the devolution settlement in 1999, my right hon. Friend has offered a one-off contribution of £250,000 from DCMS budgets as part of arrangements for establishing a Gaelic channel.
	As for the recommendation related to increasing the coverage of Radio nan Gaidhael, the BBC has greatly increased FM coverage and added satellite and freeview provision; Radio nan Gaidhael is also available globally on the internet.
	We believe that these actions continue to demonstrate the UK's commitment to meeting its obligations under the European Charter.

Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has held on a successor scheme to the Heritage Economic Regeneration scheme; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: We have asked English Heritage to work with the Heritage Lottery Fund and other regeneration agencies to explore the scope to rationalise the funding they provide for heritage-led regeneration projects. The aim is to make grants more easily accessible and to ensure best value for money. English Heritage support will continue until any revised arrangement is put in place.

Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment has been made of the impact of the Heritage Economic Regeneration scheme with particular reference to (a) retention and enhancement of older commercial buildings and (b) other commercial improvements; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: English Heritage published its impact assessments of the Heritage Economic Regeneration scheme in Heritage Dividend. The most recent report found that, on average every £10,000 of heritage investment levered in £45,000 match funding from the private and public sector, and led to 55 square metres of improved commercial floor space, one improved building, one new job and two safeguarded jobs. The reports do not break down funding by type or age of buildings involved.

International Sport (Access Gender Discrimination)

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the Government's policy regarding support for United Kingdom teams participating in international sports competitions is predicated on the condition that there is no gender discrimination regarding spectators' and supporters' access; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 16 June 2005
	No. The Government's policy regarding support for UK teams participating in international sports competitions is not predicated on the condition that there is no gender discrimination regarding spectators' and supporters' access.
	However, the Government remain committed to promoting sport for all and equality of access and would encourage the sporting world to adopt similar principles.

Licensed Premises

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of licensed premises she estimates will seek a variation in their current licence provisions under the new agreements under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: My Department estimates that 65 per cent. of licensed premises will apply for variations in their current licence provisions. This proportion was published in my Department's Regulatory Impact Assessment on 21 January 2005.

Licensed Premises

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on delaying the requirement for a new alcohol licence for licensed premises under the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a number of representations on this subject, from Members of the House, local authorities and others. However, extending the period for converting existing licences to premises licences or club premises certificates would delay the benefits that will derive from the full implementation of the Act. The second appointed day, when the new licences come into effect, will be November 24.

Television Licence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the amount collected in fines for not having a TV licence was in London in each year since 1997.

James Purnell: Information on fines collected for television licence evasion is not available. The total fines imposed for offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts of 1949 to 1967, most though not all of which involve television licence evasion, in the Greater London area in each year since 1997 were:
	
		
			  Fines imposed for offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts (£) 
		
		
			 1997 1,333,937 
			 1998 1,434,675 
			 1999 885,493 
			 2000 1,711,340 
			 2001 680,141 
			 2002 1,153,119 
			 2003 804,912

Television Licence

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were prosecuted for not having a television licence in London in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: The data collected by the Home Office relates to all offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts of 1949 to 1967, most though not all of which involve television licence evasion. The number of people proceeded against in the Greater London area in each of the last five years for which information is available was:
	
		
			  Proceeded against (4) 
		
		
			 1999 10,820 
			 2000 19,669 
			 2001 7,817 
			 2002 13,210 
			 2003 9,461 
		
	
	(4)These data are on the principal offence basis

DEFENCE

Absence Without Leave

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, columns 331–32W to the hon. Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Mr. Moore), on absence without leave, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the numbers of service personnel going absent without leave since 2000.

Don Touhig: The numbers of those going absent without leave are small when compared with the overall size of the armed forces. There are however no centralized records held to explain the increase in absences.

Aircraft Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it remains the Government's policy that two new aircraft carriers will enter service in 2012 and 2015 respectively; and what (a) minimum and (b) maximum complement of fixed-wing aircraft each will carry.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 23 June 2005
	As set out in the strategic defence review, and confirmed in subsequent policy reviews, it remains our policy to procure two larger, more capable, aircraft carriers to replace the current Invincible-class carriers.
	This project (CVF) is in its assessment phase and as such the design parameters for the ships, including the number of aircraft carried, continue to evolve to meet our capability requirements. In-service dates and design parameters will be confirmed when we take the main investment decision.
	The target in-service dates remain 2012 and 2015.

Armoured Vehicle Training Services Requirement

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Armoured Vehicle Training Services requirement to be in operation with the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: No firm dates have been set, however a revised procurement strategy being worked up by the Defence Procurement Agency, as announced on 15 June, will inform our plans to deliver the capability and take advantage of emerging technology and best practice as it develops in the commercial training areas.

Sudan

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his (a) EU and (b) NATO counterparts on assisting the implementation of a no-fly zone over the Darfur region.

Adam Ingram: Neither EU nor NATO Defence Ministers have had such discussions. The African Union has not requested assistance in this area.

Dentistry

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the role of military dental practitioners in each of the services; what their role is in performing preventative check-ups; how often service personnel are required to attend dental check-ups; how many service personnel use private dental practitioners; and whether the costs of private dental check-ups can be reclaimed from military budget lines.

Don Touhig: The role of military dental practitioners is to deliver effective military dentistry that contributes to force generation and enhances operational capability. The aim is to maximise the number of personnel fit for task and to minimise the risk of an episode of dental morbidity.
	On operations dental teams are deployed to treat episodes of morbidity and to enable personnel to return to duty as soon as possible. Deployed dental teams are an effective force multiplier.
	Service personnel are required to attend for dental check-ups at intervals of between six and 18 months dependent on the individual's dental history and dental risk assessment.
	The number of regular Service personnel attending private dental practitioners is not recorded but anecdotally is a very small percentage. The cost of private check-ups and treatment may not be reclaimed from military budget lines.

Dentistry

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) dental practitioners and (b) dental support staff are employed by each of the services; what their establishment is; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The number of dental practitioners and dental support staff employed by each of the services and their establishment are as follows (please note that the trained requirement for the Army (and total 'all services') is sourced from the Defence Dental Service establishment for that service):
	
		Trained strength(5) and requirement as at 1 April 2005 -- Requirement
		
			  Dental practitioners2,3,4,5,6 Dental support staff(11) 
		
		
			 Royal Navy 70 120 
			 Army 120 240 
			 Royal Air Force 80 210 
			 All services 270 570 
		
	
	
		Strength
		
			  Dental practitioners(12) Dental support staff 
		
		
			 Royal Navy 60 120 
			 Army 150 230 
			 Royal Air Force 70 200 
			 All services 280 550 
		
	
	(5)Figures are for trained UK regular forces and therefore exclude untrained personnel, Gurkhas, full time reserve service personnel, the home service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment and mobilised reservists.
	(6)Requirements for the RN are smoothed.
	(7)The Army trained requirement for dentists is sourced from the Defence Dental Service.
	(8)Implementation of the Medium Term Workstrand (MTW) 5 has led to a redefined global manpower requirement (GMR) which is effective from 1 April 2005.
	(9)Total trained requirement for all services is sourced from the Defence Dental Service.
	(10)Dental practitioners may include dentists who are not practising due to being posted on staff appointments and/or fulfilling non-clinical duties.
	(11)Dental support staff includes dental technicians, dental surgery assistants and dental support specialists.
	(12)Army dental practitioner figures are for officers serving within RADC only and therefore exclude late entry officers and only include ranks of captain and above. Army dental support staff may fill roles in either RAMC, RADC or QARANC.
	An establishment review is presently in progress which will reduce the number of dental practitioners and increase dental support staff.

Forces Personnel (Resignations)

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of armed forces personnel who have resigned since 2003 to join private security companies.

Don Touhig: This information is not held centrally. Exit surveys are conducted within the Naval Service and RAF but information on where personnel plan to work after they leave the services is not collected. The Army do not currently run an exit survey, however, the possibility of doing so is now under review.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of defence (a) hospital and (b) medical services in Gibraltar.

Don Touhig: The full spectrum of medical support is, and will continue to be provided to British Forces in Gibraltar. The construction of a new primary and secondary Integrated Health Facility, which will replace the current Royal Naval Hospital and Joint Medical and Dental Unit, is estimated for completion in 2007. We remain committed to providing our entitled personnel with medical services at least equivalent to NHS standards, wherever practicable and possible.

Gulf-war Related Illness

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many claims in respect of Gulf War related illness have been (a) rejected and (b) accepted by the Veterans Agency, Blackpool; and how many claims have been allowed the right of appeal.

Don Touhig: Our records show that as at 31 May 2005,1,484 claims have been accepted and 120 claims rejected in respect of Gulf War related illness. All decisions issued by the Veterans Agency carry a right of appeal.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

Don Touhig: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him on 22 June 2005, Official Report, 1059W, by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Incendiary Weapons (Iraq)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his letter to the hon. Member for Leyton, deposited in the Library, correcting his January parliamentary answer about the use of incendiary weapons in Iraq, how he discovered that his answer was incorrect; when he first discovered that it was incorrect; whether the use of the weapons were in the area of Falluja; whether any civilian settlements were in the area; where the weapons were used; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: On 20 April, my attention was drawn to reports that the US State Department had confirmed the use of MK 77 firebombs in Iraq in 2005, contrary to the answer given to my hon. Friend, the member for Leyton and Wanstead, 11 January 2005, Official Report, column 374W. Ministry of Defence officials sought clarification from the Pentagon and I wrote to my hon. Friend as soon as possible after this had been received in June.
	Where, and against which targets the weapons were used is a matter for the US authorities.

Joint Strike Fighter

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the work his Department has carried out since the publication of the Rand Europe report on the Joint Strike Fighter to evaluate the steps which have to be taken to secure a final assembly, check out and maintenance and repair unit for this aircraft at BAE Wharton.

Adam Ingram: We have a requirement for a Maintenance, Repair and Upgrade capability to provide sovereign support for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) throughout its planned service life. Following on from the Rand study, further investigations are underway between BAES, DTI and MOD, to explore the possible synergy between this and a Final Assembly and Check Out facility based in the UK.

Military Readiness

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the finding of the National Audit Office report Assessing and Reporting Military Readiness, paragraph 2.39, concerning shortages of essential personnel; what estimate he has made of the extent of these shortages; how many units and of which types, are (a) facing such shortages and (b) under strength; and of how many medical staff his Department is short.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The current shortages of personnel, by Service, within the areas of undermanning noted in paragraph 2.39 of the National Audit Office report Assessing and reporting Military Readiness, are given as follows. These numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Royal Navy and Royal Marines  
			 Medical personnel (including nurses, surgeons and anaesthetists) 80 
			 Signals and communications personnel 140 
			 Vehicle maintenance technicians 30 
			 Aircrew 140 
			 Engineers:  
			 Marine 390 
			 Weapons 170 
			 Logisticians 80 
			 Chefs 50 
			   
			 Army  
			 Medical Personnel (including nurses, surgeons and anaesthetists) 630 
			 Intelligence personnel 440 
			 Vehicle maintenance technicians 380 
			 Engineers 1,330 
			 Logisticians 920 
			 Chefs 310 
			   
			 Royal Air Force  
			 Medical personnel (including nurses, surgeons and anaesthetists) 80 
			 Vehicle maintenance technicians 30 
			 Aircrew 140 
			 Weapon systems operators 120 
			 Engineers 90 
			 Logisticians 20 
		
	
	Attributing shortages to individual units could be achieved only at disproportionate cost. The deficits are managed as equitably as possible by the respective manning agencies to minimise the operational impact.

Military Readiness

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times in each year since 1997 the military readiness traffic light reporting system has shown a (a) yellow and (b) red state of readiness for each service.

Adam Ingram: The military readiness reporting system has been evolving since it was first included in the Ministry of Defence's Public Service Agreement following the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review. Performance against PSA readiness targets has been reported to Parliament since 1999–2000 in the Ministry of Defence's Annual Performance Report, which from 2002–2003 has been included in the Annual Report and Accounts. The number of critical weaknesses which would make it impossible to deploy a unit has also been reported publicly in our quarterly PSA reports available on the MOD website since December 2003.

Ministry of Defence Police (Royal Mint Investigation)

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the outcome was of the investigation commenced in July 2002 at the Royal Mint Llantrisant; and on which Government agency's behalf his Department's police handled the case.

Don Touhig: The police investigations at the Royal Mint have now been completed. One person has been charged with a number of offences and is due to appear at Southwark Crown court on 12 September 2005. A second person is the subject of a request for extradition and a file has been forwarded to the Director of Prosecutions, Gambia. The Gambian authorities have issued a judicial order for the arrest of the individual.
	The Chief Executive of the Royal Mint Llantrisant launched an internal investigation and reported findings to HM Treasury, who brought in the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). However, when the SFO became aware that the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) provide a policing service to the Royal Mint, it was agreed by both organisations that the MDP would be the most appropriate police force to assist with the inquiry, due regard having been taken of the geographical spread of the required inquiries within the UK and abroad.

MRSA

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) advice is given on, and (b) precautions are taken against the spread of MRSA in military ambulances; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The majority of secondary care for armed forces personnel is provided at Ministry of Defence Hospital Units within host NHS hospitals. Ambulances used for transfer fall under the local health authority and will adhere to the procedures and precautions laid down by the local health authority.
	Some military ambulances are retained by armed forces medical centres. Guidelines to prevent the spread of infection are provided at a single Service level. These include staff protection and ambulance disinfection. The guidelines are in line with the current procedures recommended by the local health authorities.
	Ambulances are also used by the armed forces for transfer of a small number of patients in Cyprus and Gibraltar. These ambulances follow the same infection control procedures as the UK based medical centres with staff referring to the local infection control manuals supplied by the single Service Infection Control Teams in the UK. A local infection control nurse is on hand to provide immediate support and advice where necessary.
	MRSA has not been identified as a major problem for troops returning from military operations abroad. Nevertheless, when operating in field conditions, staff are instructed on the importance of preventing the spread of any infection and are given specific guidelines to follow to prevent the spread of infection relevant to the particular theatre. Ambulances on operations are cleaned as per single Service guidelines on the decontamination of equipment. All ambulances should be thoroughly cleaned between uses.

MRSA

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many cases of MRSA have been recorded in his Department's hospitals since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The majority of secondary care for armed forces personnel is now provided at Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) which are based within NHS trust hospitals around the UK. MRSA numbers are now monitored by the infection control teams of each NHS trust under the direction of a consultant microbiologist, not the MOD. The MOD therefore does not hold these records.
	Royal Hospital Haslar (RHH) is currently an exception to this. Since April 2001 it has been run in partnership with Portsmouth Hospital Trust. The number of cases of MRSA at RHH are only available from the year 2000. Due to reasons of medical confidentiality, numbers are not broken down below five.
	
		Royal Hospital Haslar
		
			  Cases 
		
		
			 2000 Less than 5 
			 2001 22 
			 2002 66 
			 2003 34 
			 2004 26 
			 2005 20 (to date) 
		
	
	The MOD currently has two military hospitals at its permanent overseas bases in Cyprus and Gibraltar. Records for these bases are only held for the last five years and less than five cases of MRSA have been recorded in Cyprus, and none in Gibraltar. Those cases recorded have been transferred in from other hospitals and no new cases of MRSA have been identified in either hospital in this period.

Portsmouth Nuclear Accident Plan

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what enhancements to the Portsmouth nuclear accident plan are necessary to cover vessels powered by nuclear reactors manoeuvring around the City of Portsmouth at the same time during Trafalgar 200 at the Review of the Fleet on 28 June; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Safety of visits to the Dockyard Port of Portsmouth (DPP) by Nuclear Powered Warships (NPW's) is assured by adherence to the Nuclear Site Safety Justification (NSSJ), which covers safe systems of work for the arrival, transit and anchoring of a single NPW within the waters of the DPP. It also describes the safety management arrangements and contingency plans that are in place to minimise risk, and has been approved by the Ministry of Defence's Naval Nuclear Regulatory Panel (NNRP). In addition to the NSSJ and in accordance with the requirements under the independent national regulations, Radiation Emergency Preparedness and Public Information Regulations (REPPIR) 2001, a Report of Assessment (ROA) of Hazard Identification and Risk Evaluation (HIRE) has been conducted that identifies the requirement for an emergency plan. The City of Portsmouth is covered by a detailed plan (PORTSAFE), which has been exercised and tested under REPPIR.
	In recognising the additional risk associated with the attendance at the International Fleet Review of more that one NPW, a Special Safety Statement (SSS) has been produced that enhances the measures contained in the NSSJ. It deals with factors such as increased maritime traffic, transient changes in population, event activities and the battle re-enactments. It has been approved by the MOD's NNRP and has been accepted by the Portsmouth Nuclear Site Safety Committee, and the Nuclear Works and Services Authorisation Group (NWSAG), which comprises both MOD and independent expert advisers. Enhancements to PORTSAFE are not required due to the distance that the visiting NPWs will be anchored from residential areas. This has been agreed by the regulatory and local authorities.

Race Relations (Amendment) Act

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are in place to ensure that bodies within the responsibility of his Department comply with the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence complies with its obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 by the publication of a Race Equality Scheme (RES) and the production of annual progress reports against the scheme. The RES and the annual progress reports are published and in the public domain. The Department's RES covers its civilian work force (including Trading Funds), the armed forces and the Ministry of Defence police.

RAF Innsworth

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the implications for the tri-service medal office of the proposed changes at RAF Innsworth; and if he will make it his policy to relocate the office to available property belonging to his department in Droitwich Spa.

Don Touhig: The RAF Innsworth site is home to a number of elements of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency (AFPAA) including the Ministry of Defence Medal Office. AFPAA will be conducting an investment appraisal into the relocation of all AFPAA activities located at Innsworth. The result of this will not be known until at least the end of this year. The MOD is proceeding with closure works for the Droitwich Spa estate.

Royal Navy Ships (Berth Availability)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the forecast availability is of the Z berth in Malabar, Bermuda, for Royal Navy ships.

Adam Ingram: The Z berth in Bermuda is currently available as a facility for visiting RN submarines. There are no changes forecast to that arrangement.

Surface Fleet

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the configuration of the planned surface fleet is for (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Our plans for the surface fleet are set out on page 18 of Delivering Security in a Changing World (Future Capabilities) (Cm 6269)", presented to the House by the Secretary of State for Defence in July 2004.

Territorial Army

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the long-term future of Territorial Army centres in Lancashire.

Don Touhig: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 18W, to the hon. Member for Lancaster and Wyre (Mr. Wallace). I will ensure that the hon. Friend is informed of the outcome of current work on rebalancing the Territorial Army in due course.

Trafalgar Celebrations

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what events his Department is organising in Gibraltar to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar; and how many ships will visit as part of Trafalgar 200.

Adam Ingram: A programme of events is planned to take place in Gibraltar during the weekend of 28–30 October 2005 to commemorate the close historic links between Gibraltar and Nelson's victory. In addition to a traditional service of remembrance at the Trafalgar cemetery, these will include a Nelson exhibition, Beating Retreat and reception, and a Royal Navy Ceremonial Guard Mount at His Excellency the Governor's residence. The Royal Navy will also be invited to exercise their Freedom of the City privileges. A Royal Navy destroyer has also programmed to visit Gibraltar to partake in the commemorations.
	In the UK, the Royal Navy is organising a special programme of events for this year, which is being coordinated with other events as part of the SeaBritain and Trafalgar Festival initiatives to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for (a) launching and (b) controlling the proposed Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicle system from Royal Navy ships.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on the use of UAVs at sea on 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 334W.

Uzbekistan

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel have been on training exercises in Uzbekistan in each year since 1997; and what the nature was of those training exercises.

Adam Ingram: United Kingdom forces have undertaken one exercise in Uzbekistan since 1997, a company-level peacekeeping exercise which took place from 11–25 September 2004. The 146-person UK element was drawn from the Territorial Army.

Uzbekistan

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK service personnel have been stationed in Uzbekistan for the purposes of training Uzbek military personnel in each year since 1997; and what the cost was of providing this training.

Adam Ingram: There are no United Kingdom personnel permanently stationed in Uzbekistan specifically for the purposes of training Uzbek military personnel. However, the UK has sent British Military Advisory and Training Teams (BMATTs) to Uzbekistan in recent years, to provide training to the Uzbek armed forces, as follows:
	
		
			  Dates  Locations  Subject BMATT personnel Students trained Costs (£000) 
		
		
			 7–18 March 2005 Samarkand Field Training 3 20 14 
			 21 February to 9 March 2005 Samarkand Marksmanship Coaching Course 2 20 14 
			 1–25 September 2004 Chirchik, Tashkent Management of Training 2 20 22 
			 13 June to 11 July 2004 Samarkand Instructor Training Course 2 18 23 
			 20 October to 13 November 2003 Samarkand Instructor Training Course 5 18 54 
			 21 October to 23 November 2002 Samarkand Instructor Training Course 4 19 48 
			 Total 175

Wormwood Scrubs Act

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements there are under the Wormwood Scrubs Act 1879, as amended, for his Department to be consulted should a local authority propose carrying out works that might impede access to open space.

Don Touhig: Use of Wormwood Scrubs is governed by the Wormwood Scrubs Act 1879 and a Memorandum of Agreement dated 1 October 1980.
	Under the Act, all development proposals, which affect Wormwood Scrubs must be referred to the Ministry of Defence for agreement. As trustees of the Scrubs, the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham are aware of this agreement and have complied with it in the past, most recently in 2001. The Ministry of Defence uses the Scrubs for training.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bovine TB

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many badgers have been culled in (a) Devon, (b) Cornwall, (c) Somerset and (d) Dorset in each of the last three years; what estimate she has made of the cost of culling badgers in Devon to eradicate bovine TB; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 27 June 2005
	Five of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) areas are in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset or Dorset. However, as two of these trial areas straddle two counties it is not possible to provide the breakdown by county.
	The following numbers of badgers have been culled as part of the RBCT in each of the relevant five areas:
	
		Number
		
			  (13)2003 (13)2004 (13)2005 
		
		
			 Devon/Cornwall 133 282 111 
			 Cornwall 241 233 187 
			 Cornwall (2) 393 393 220 
			 Somerset/Devon 247 214 73 
			 Devon 441 187 109 
		
	
	(13)Each culling year runs from 1 May to 31 January.
	The cost of the RBCT to the end of 2003–04 was approximately £32 million. It has since been costing about £7 million per annum. It is not possible to estimate the cost of the RBCT in Devon alone.

Dog Control Areas

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the commencement date will be in respect of powers for local authorities to introduce dog control areas; when she expects to publish regulations in respect of this matter; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: We hope to commence the provisions in the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act on Dog Control Orders in April 2006, and intend to consult on draft guidance and regulations this autumn.

Foot and Mouth

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of the airborne spread of foot and mouth disease during the 2001 outbreak.

Ben Bradshaw: The possibility of airborne transmission of the foot-and-mouth-disease virus was assessed during the 2001 epidemic and studies have been conducted subsequently. These indicate that a maximum of 27 farms may have been infected by airborne spread.

Mole-catchers

David Maclean: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what incidents of (a) damage to and (b) destruction of wildlife caused by the use of strychnine hydrochloride for the killing and destruction of moles by mole-catchers have occurred in the last 10 years.

Elliot Morley: The Government's Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) investigates cases of suspected poisoning of wildlife by pesticides. There have been no reported cases of wildlife being poisoned by the approved use of strychnine for mole control over the last 10 years. There have been two cases of poisonings reported which may have been due to the misuse or abuse of strychnine hydrochloride when used for mole-control.

Packaging

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her most recent estimate is of the amount of household waste which is made up of unnecessary packaging.

Ben Bradshaw: The Packaging (Essential Requirement) Regulations 2003 (as amended) stipulate that all packaging should be manufactured so that the packaging volume and weight are limited to the minimum adequate amount to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer. To date, three companies have been successfully prosecuted by Trading Standards for placing over-packaged goods on the market.
	Companies with obligations under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) also have a financial incentive to reduce the amount of packaging they manufacture or use.

Recycling

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made on recycling since the Household Waste Recycling Bill was enacted.

Ben Bradshaw: The Household Waste Recycling Act came into force on 1 April 2003. The information requested is presented in the following table:
	
		
			  Percentage Tonnage (million) 
		
		
			 Household waste sent for recycling or composting in England   
			 2002–03 14.5 3.7 
			 2003–04 17.7 4.5 
			
			 Percentage of households served by a kerbside collection scheme in England   
			 2002–03 67 — 
			 2003–04 80 — 
			
			 Amount (tonnes) of household waste collected for recycling or composting through kerbside schemes   
			 2002–03 — 1.2 
			 2003–04 — 1.9 
		
	
	Source:
	Defra Municipal Waste Management Survey for England.

Tethered Equines

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the animal welfare guidelines are for permanently tethered equines;
	(2)  whether she has received any communication concerning the suffering and maltreatment of tethered horses, ponies and donkeys.

Ben Bradshaw: While the Government would prefer that the tethering of horses did not occur at all, we recognise that in certain circumstances it can be an appropriate short-term management practice. The Department assisted in producing the Equine Industry Welfare Guidelines Compendium in 2002, which addresses this issue.
	The new Animal Welfare Bill will place on those who own or are responsible for animals, a duty to ensure their welfare. In particular, this duty of care will be supported by a code of practice for tethering horses. Although the Government is not proposing to ban the tethering of horses altogether, the code of practice will provide a set of minimum required welfare standards, including information on the correct type of equipment to be used to provide protection for tethered horses.
	The Department receives occasional correspondence about the treatment of tethered horses, ponies and donkeys from members of the public and interested groups.

Timber

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of construction waste was timber in each of the last five years; what proportion of such timber was segregated for recycling into raw pulp or chipboard in each year; and what proportion of the remaining timber was landfilled in each year.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government does not hold data on the proportion of construction waste that was timber over the past five years.

Veterinary Medicines (EU Directive)

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with (a) small animal vets and (b) their representatives on the implementation of the EU Directive on batch recording and traceability of veterinary medicines;
	(2)  when she will publish her response to the consultation by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate on batch recording and traceability;
	(3)  what assessment she has made of the effect on small animal vets of the record-keeping requirements in the proposals of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate for implementation of the EU Directive on batch recording and traceability;
	(4)  what discussions she has had with her counterparts in other EU member states on implementation of the directive on batch recording and traceability of veterinary medicines.

Ben Bradshaw: The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is developing new Regulations setting out controls on all aspects of veterinary medicines. Their purpose is to implement an amending EU Directive, take forward relevant recommendations made in the Marsh and Competition Commission reports on the dispensing of veterinary prescription only medicines (POMs) in the UK, and replace the existing voluminous and outdated UK legislation on veterinary medicines with a single set of Regulations.
	The new Regulations include provisions for retailers of veterinary POMs to record information relating to products received and supplied, including the manufacturer's batch number. These requirements are already applied to veterinary medicines for use in food-producing animals but the amending Directive extends their application to products for companion animals. We have received correspondence on this issue from a number of individuals including veterinary surgeons.
	During the initial stages of developing the proposals, officials at the VMD consulted informally with a wide range of interested groups, including veterinary organisations. Following further development, a formal consultation package was published on the VMD website on 4 January 2005 and a letter sent to some 350 interested organisations and individuals. Consultees were allowed four months, until 5 May, to comment. Over 300 responses have been received and the comments, including those relating to the record-keeping provisions and their perceived impact on small animal veterinarians, are currently being considered and will be taken into account in finalising the draft Regulations. The VMD has kept interested parties informed of developments on key issues by publishing a series of reaction notes and has held public meetings on 21 and 22 June to discuss the outcome of the formal consultation. A further meeting with the British Small Animal Veterinary Association has been arranged for 29 June. VMD officials have also been in touch with officials in other member states to ascertain their approach to the implementation of these provisions.

Waste Recycling

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of electrical and electronic waste in the UK was recycled in the last year for which figures are available.

Ben Bradshaw: I understand that, currently, approximately 60 per cent. of domestic WEEE, by weight, is recycled, mostly comprising large household appliances. The Industry Council for Electronic Equipment Recycling (ICER) does not yet have figures for recycling levels of business WEEE.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

XML Feeds

Michael Fabricant: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission when XML feeds of the Parliamentary website for information, including the Official Report and Early Day Motions, will be made available; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: There are at present no plans to make XML feeds of the Parliamentary website available. XMLfeeds of Early Day Motions are used internally for the generation of printed papers and populating parliamentary and Government information management systems. XML feeds of Hansard are under development for similar purposes.
	The Parliamentary Publications source database, which includes Hansard and Early Day Motions, is currently populated with content in HTML, and is available under licence from HMSO, who administer Parliamentary Copyright. Future planning for the development of the website will take into account the case for providing XML feeds.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

UK Companies (Accountability)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to ensure UK companies are accountable for their impact on (a) communities and (b) the environment in developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: All companies should operate within the laws of the country in which they are operating. UK companies operating in developing countries should be accountable to the Government and citizens of those countries. DFID recognises that, in many developing countries, the systems for monitoring and regulating business activity are weak. Our priority is to support countries' efforts to develop an appropriate legal framework, including protection of the environment and community rights, and to strengthen their capacity to enforce these laws. An example is the pathways to environmental action in Kenya where DFID supports work with local regulatory authorities and the private sector to find the best means of meeting environmental standards.
	There are of course certain fundamental issues, such as respect for human rights, which are universal. At the global level, we encourage countries to sign up to the existing international agreements in this area—in particular, the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) guidelines for multinational enterprises, the global compact and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) core conventions on labour standards. At the international level, we are also working with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) on their environmental and social safeguards revision process.
	Improved reporting mechanisms also give UK companies the opportunity to report on their impacts both at home and abroad. The new operating and financial review, which applies to financial years beginning on or after 1 April 2005 requires quoted companies to report on factors affecting the performance and future prospects of their company. They will be required to consider their impacts on environmental and community matters if this is relevant to an assessment of the company. This is a step forward in ensuring greater corporate transparency and accountability.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Commission for Africa

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the Commission for Africa's observations on the merits of using trade agreements to achieve growth and poverty reduction in developing countries.

Ian Pearson: The Government firmly believes that trade liberalisation through preferential, regional or multilateral agreements can play an important role in promoting economic growth and poverty reduction. As the Commission for Africa report highlights, it is essential that improvements are made to the supply capacity of African countries if they are to benefit fully from the potential gains that trade liberalisation brings.

Company Directors

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy to allow company directors the discretion to forgo commercial advantage for ethical and public objectives.

Alun Michael: Company law provides a flexible framework which can be used by both commercial companies and companies formed for an altruistic purpose. We will be codifying directors' general duties in our proposed Company Law Reform Bill. In the case of a commercial company, directors have a duty to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members. This means that the directors should put commercial considerations first, but, in doing so, they should foster effective relationships with employees, customers and suppliers, and in the community more widely. They need to pay regard to the long run as well as the short term consequences of their actions. We believe that this approach can both drive long-term company performance and maximise overall competitiveness and ensure that directors pay regard to the company's impact on the community and the environment.

Corruption

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many allegations of overseas bribery and corruption by British companies have been received by his Department since May 2004.

Ian Pearson: The Department of Trade and Industry has received one allegation of overseas bribery and corruption by a British company since May 2004, and ECGD have received two allegations.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, columns 78–9W, on Export Credits Guarantee Department, when he expects to report on the consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 21 June 2005
	The Export Credits Guarantee Department expects to report on the consultation in September 2005.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government's response to the consultation, Estimating the Economic Cost of the ECGD to the DTI, will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The methodology to estimate the economic cost of ECGD, which was set out alongside Budget 2005, will be reviewed as part of, and published alongside, the 2006 Spending Review. Comments submitted by any interested party will continue to be taken into account before publishing the final method and economic cost figure.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Export Credits Guarantee Department has allocated to (a) fossil fuel projects and (b) renewable energy in each of the last five years.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member for St. Ives to the answer given on 7 February 2005, Official Report, column 1263W. I will write to the hon. Member with up-to-date information as soon as it is available.

MG Rover

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what issues he has asked the inspectors Messrs Guy Newey and Gervase MacGregor to investigate in their inquiry into MG Rover; whether he has asked them to limit their inquiry to specific areas; when he expects them to present their report to him; and whether he plans to publish the report.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak (Lynne Jones) on 15 June 2005, Official Report, column 412W.

Miners Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the implications of the proposed transfer of miners' compensation claims by the UDM from AMS Law Solicitors to Moss Solicitors in February.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has not been informed by the UDM of any mass transfer of miners' compensation claims from AMS Law Solicitors to Moss solicitors.

Miners Compensation

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for what reasons his Department signed an agreement in 1999 on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers following the signing of the January 1999 agreement on vibration white finger with Vendside Ltd.

Malcolm Wicks: Vendside is wholly owned by the Union of Democratic Mineworkers. It makes no practical difference to the claims handling arrangements which of the two is named in them.

Monopsonies/Oligopsonies

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to deal with monopsonies and oligopsonies with particular reference to (a) supermarkets, (b) disintermediation and (c) small shops.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The prime responsibility for operating our competition regime rests with the independent competition authorities. In the specific case of supermarkets it is the Office of Fair Trading, which is currently responsible for keeping under the review the Code of Practice governing supermarkets' relations with their suppliers and for dealing with any other competition issues in the sector.

Onshore Wind Technology

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he is taking to support newly emerging renewable technologies other than onshore wind farms.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government are providing just over £500 million of support between 2002–08 to help develop emerging renewable and low carbon technologies. This will take the form of spending on R&D and funding for capital grants. Onshore wind is not eligible for capital grants, except in the case of small community schemes supported under Clear Skies.
	Funding includes grants of £117 million for offshore wind, over £60 million for energy crops and biomass, £31 million for PV, £12.5 million for community schemes and as announced last year, £50 million for the setting up of a Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.
	On 14 June, it was announced that a £40 million–four year funding package to support demonstrations of carbon abatement technologies (£25 million) and hydrogen and fuel cell technologies (£15 million).
	Total public expenditure on research and development for renewable energy sources for 2003–04 was estimated at over £29 million.

Opencast Mining (Scotland)

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the implications of new planning guidelines for opencast mines in relation to meeting Scotland's future energy requirements.

Malcolm Wicks: None. At the Scottish Executive's invitation, officials commented on the draft Review of National Policy Guideline 16 before it was submitted to Scottish Executive Ministers ahead of the public consultation period.

Timeshares

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Tradeand Industry if he will bring forward legislation to make it illegal for a timeshare operation to dispose of timeshare development without offering full compensation based on the true value of each owner's holiday week.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have no plans to bring forward legislation of the type described by the hon. Member. The conditions under which a timeshare resort owner is able to sell a resort will be a matter of the contracts he holds with the timeshare owners. The cross-border nature of the industry and the difficulties which this can cause in cases where individual timeshare owners feel they have a case to pursue against their resort supplier are such that issues of the type alluded to in the question are best considered in the European context.
	I have written recently to Commissioner Kyprianou to urge him to ensure that the projected review of the operation and scope of the Timeshare Directive (implemented in the UK by the Timeshare Act 1992 as amended) is given urgent attention. Industry and consumer stakeholders will have the opportunity to present the Commission with evidence of failings in the regime in the course of the review, as will the Department and the Office of Fair Trading.

Wind Farms

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk to sea birds of placing a large wind farm in the Thames Estuary; and if she will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The potential impacts of offshore wind farm projects are considered in detail during the process that determines whether to grant consent for those projects. In support of an application for consent, the applicant will undertake an assessment of a wide range of impacts of the project, the results of which will be submitted in the form of an environmental statement with the application.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will, in determining the application, consider the results of a wide ranging public consultation exercise on the applicant's assessment that will include English Nature and other relevant bodies as necessary.
	The Department of Trade and Industry has commissioned and part-funded with Defra and wind farm developers, a comprehensive programme of aerial bird surveys in each of the three strategic areas used for Round 2 of offshore wind farm leasing including the Thames Estuary. The programme is already providing valuable information about bird populations in those areas which will be utilised by developers, regulators and consultees in their deliberations of wind farm impacts.

TRANSPORT

Concessionary Fares

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the concessionary travel fare scheme for pensioners.

Alistair Darling: The Government will provide an extra £350 million in 2006–07 which they believe will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities.

Crossrail (London Olympic Bid)

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the implications of the Crossrail project for the London Olympic Bid.

Derek Twigg: Discussions were held as part of preliminary work, before the decision to bid was made in May 2003. Crossrail is not, and never has been part of London's Olympic Bid.

Rail Utilisation Strategy (West Midlands)

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the West Midlands Rail Utilisation Strategy.

Stephen Ladyman: The document is currently being finalised and it will be published soon.

Road Fund Tax

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of current levels of evasion of the road fund tax.

Stephen Ladyman: Vehicle excise duty evasion is measured by annual roadside surveys of around 1 million vehicles. The 2004 survey indicated that vehicle excise duty evasion stood at 3.4 per cent. of the revenue due (around £129 million per annum).

National Road Pricing System

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the introduction of a national road pricing system.

Stephen Ladyman: In line with their manifesto commitments, the Government are examining the potential of moving away from the current system of motoring taxation towards a national system of road pricing.

Road Improvements

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to begin to dual the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury if the project is prioritised by the South East England Regional Assembly.

Stephen Ladyman: If the current regional prioritisation exercise should give this scheme a high priority the earliest that construction could start is 2008. In the meantime the Highways Agency will continue to develop the scheme towards publication of draft orders and, if necessary, public inquiry.

Road Improvements

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Highways Agency about plans to improve the A417 between Nettleton Bottom and Brockworth bypass, Gloucestershire; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Although the Secretary for State has had no recent discussions with the Highways Agency he is aware that the Agency has been developing this scheme. The scheme is not currently in the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements.
	The trunk road network has been divided into two categories: routes of national importance and routes of predominantly regional significance, with the intention of getting greater regional input into transport spending decisions. The A417 is an important regional road, so the next step will be for the South West Region Planning Body to advise where this scheme should rank alongside other transport schemes in the region. Ministers will then decide whether the scheme should be added to the programme.

A38

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcome of the noise hotspots assessment was for the (a) A38 Shobnall Road, (b) A38 Wyggeston, (c) M6 Western Downs, (d) A38 Branston and Ashmole—Branston B—Near A38 Junction and (e) A38 Branston and Ashmole—Branston A—Lichfield Road.

Stephen Ladyman: The A38 Wyggeston Road; M6 Western Downs between Junctions 12 and 13; and A38 Branston and Ashmole (sites A and B) are eligible for future funding as they meet some of the criteria. The A38 Shobnall Road received quieter noise resurfacing works as part of the Burton By-pass renewals scheme. This was completed January 2005.

A40

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many accidents occurred in each year between 1984 and 2004 on the A40 road between Carmarthen and St. Clears;
	(2)  how many accidents occurred in each year between 1984 and 2004 on the A40 road between St.Clears and Haverfordwest.

Stephen Ladyman: The information requested is shown in the following table. Figures for 2004 are not yet available.
	
		Number of accidents (involving personal injury) on the A40: 1984–2003
		
			  Section between Carmarthen and St. Clears Section between St. Clears and Haverfordwest 
		
		
			 1984 30 17 
			 1985 12 24 
			 1986 19 27 
			 1987 8 33 
			 1988 9 30 
			 1989 14 46 
			 1990 17 51 
			 1991 22 33 
			 1992 15 30 
			 1993 19 33 
			 1994 18 30 
			 1995 15 39 
			 1996 14 34 
			 1997 13 39 
			 1998 9 37 
			 1999 13 26 
			 2000 11 31 
			 2001 9 19 
			 2002 10 29 
			 2003 9 22

Air Displays

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on air displays of the proposed increase in fees for an Article 70 display permission; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: The Secretary of State has made no such assessment. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) commenced a 12 week consultation on proposals for its safety regulation charging schemes on Friday 10 June. This covers the charging period from 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2007. In due course, the CAA Board will seek the Secretary of State's approval for the revised schemes, as required by the Civil Aviation Act 1982.

Aircraft Pollution

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to reduce pollution from aircraft.

Karen Buck: The Government are committed to tackling pollution from aircraft. The measures we are taking are set out in Chapter 3 of The Future of Air Transport" White Paper. They include pressing for the inclusion of aviation in the European Union emissions trading scheme from 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter.
	We have introduced the Civil Aviation Bill which clarifies and strengthens the measures available to airports for dealing with aircraft noise. This includes a greater ability to introduce and enforce noise amelioration measures beyond airport boundaries and an ability to impose penalties where aircraft stray from routes designed to minimise noise. The Bill also makes explicit the powers of airports to set charges which reflect local emissions from aircraft.
	These plans build on Government action pressing for tighter international emissions standards, funding research and promoting sustainability within the sector.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether Crossrail is exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Derek Twigg: Cross London Rail Links Ltd. (CLRLL) is not wholly owned by any one public authority, and as such is not covered by the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA). I understand from CLRLL that the board of directors have undertaken that the company should behave as though it has to conform to the Act.

Crossrail

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria were used to decide that the Romford Crossrail Depot Option required a dive-under.

Derek Twigg: Due to the high frequency of trains running at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour on the main lines past the proposed Crossrail depot, a grade separated crossing is required in order for Crossrail trains to enter and leave the depot and access the electric lines on which Crossrail services will operate.

Double-deck Trains

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  on what train lines the Government is planning to introduce double-deck trains;
	(2)  whether the existing UK rail network can accommodate double-deck trains;
	(3)  what assessment the Government has made of the merits of (a) introducing double-deck trains and (b) lengthening platforms and adding extra carriages to trains.

Derek Twigg: The Department will be looking at a variety of options for increasing rail capacity both over the short term and the longer term. Among other options, this will include an assessment of the potential costs and benefits of using double-decker trains in the UK.

Durham Roads Budget

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what central funding has been allocated to Durham county council roads budget in each year since 1997.

Karen Buck: The Department has approved over £103 million of block funding to Durham county council between April 1997 and March 2005. Of this, £46.115 million was for capital maintenance, £35.697 million was for Integrated transport and £21.382 million was for major transport projects.
	The funding provided to Durham county council over the above-mentioned period is shown in the following table.
	
		Durham CC central funding for roads -- £ million
		
			  Capital maintenance Integrated block Major schemes Total 
		
		
			 1997–98 0.956 0.480 0 1.436 
			 1998–99 0.658 0.370 0 1.028 
			 1999–2000 4.238 4.871 0 9.109 
			 2000–01 5.24 2.190 4.200 11.63 
			 2001–02 8.555 5.397 1.955 15.907 
			 2002–03 9.103 6.440 6.117 21.66 
			 2003–04 8.008 8.054 1.007 17.069 
			 2004–05 9.357 7.895 8.103 25.355 
			 Total 46.115 35.697 21.382 103.194

Gatwick Express

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met (a) the Strategic Rail Authority and (b) the British Airports Authority to discuss the future of the Gatwick Express; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 16 June 2005
	Officials from the Department for Transport and Strategic Rail Authority meet regularly to discuss the Brighton Mainline. They have also recently held a series of meetings with the British Airports Authority to specifically discuss the future of the Gatwick Express.

Heathrow

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of passengers at Heathrow who were (a) UK residents on business trips, (b) overseas residents on business trips to the UK, (c) overseas residents on business trips transferring or transiting at Heathrow en route to an overseas destination, (d) UK residents on leisure trips, (e) overseas residents on leisure trips to the UK and (f) overseas residents on leisure trips transferring or transiting at Heathrow en route to an overseas destination, in each of the last five years.

Karen Buck: The following table shows terminal (terminating and transfer) and transit passengers at Heathrow who were UK and overseas residents on business or leisure trips by routes.
	
		Terminal and transit passengers at Heathrow 2000–04
		
			 Answer:  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 A Business trips by UK residents 11.7 11.0 10.4 10.3 11.5 
			 B Business trips to/from the UK by overseas residents 8.6 7.7 7.7 7.4 7.7 
			 C Overseas residents on business trips transferring at Heathrow between an overseas origin and an overseas destination 4.0 3.8 4.6 4.6 4.7 
			 D Leisure trips by UK residents 17.4 16.7 17.9 18.0 19.0 
			 E Leisure trips to/from the UK by overseas residents 12.4 10.7 10.1 11.0 11.5 
			 F Overseas residents on leisure trips transferring at Heathrow between an overseas origin and an overseas destination 9.6 9.8 11.6 11.6 12.3 
			 Transit passengers (million) 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2

Illegal Drivers

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the number of drivers who have never taken a driving test.

Stephen Ladyman: It is not known how many full driving licence holders have never taken a driving test. The Road Traffic Act 1934 provided that all new applicants would have to undertake a test of competence to drive. The Act provided an exemption from the need to take a driving test for those drivers who had held a provisional licence prior to 1 April 1934. In addition between 18 February 1947 and 17 February 1948 provisional licences obtained during the second world war were converted to full licences without the requirement to sit a driving test. Records kept at this time did not distinguish between full licence holders who obtained full entitlement as a consequence of passing a test and those who relied on the exemptions contained in the appropriate Acts.

M18

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to erect fencing alongside the carriageways of the M18 motorway.

Stephen Ladyman: There are currently no plans to erect any new boundary or noise fencing alongside the carriageways of the M18 motorway.

Rail Freight

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken to encourage the transporting of freight by rail.

Derek Twigg: Rail plays a crucial role in goods transport and we wish to see freight travelling by rail instead of road wherever this makes sense. This is delivered most effectively by a competitive and dynamic private sector rail freight industry, with our role to maintain the conditions where the industry can flourish.
	We plan to provide approximately £24 million of grants in each of the next two years, and the industry also benefits from the current unprecedented level of investment in the network, including some investment specifically supporting rail freight traffic, for instance the £30 million Felixstowe gauge enhancement completed last year.
	In addition, the ORR has recently published its policy on long-term contracts, providing a platform for continued investment by the industry and greater commercial confidence for their customers.

Rail Passengers

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the number of passengers who used the London to Scotland sleeper in each of the last three years; and at which stations it stopped in this period.

Derek Twigg: The London to Scotland sleeper service is part of the Scotrail franchise and is the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
	Figures for the number of passengers using sleeper services between London and Scotland in each of the last three years are not held centrally. However, industry data shows the following level of patronage:
	
		
			 Fiscal year Passenger journeys 
		
		
			 2002–03 234,000 
			 2003–04 237,000 
			 2004–05 236,000

Rail Projects

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on Government funding for the (a) Euston rail development and (b) extension of the Eurostar route.

Derek Twigg: The Government has no plans to fund the extension of Eurostar services which will transfer to St. Pancras upon completion of Section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link in 2007, but the connection from new St. Pancras International station to the West Coast Main Line is being built under the CTRL Project.

Railway Stations

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which railway stations in Lancashire have CCTV.

Derek Twigg: I have been advised by the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) that the following railway stations in Lancashire have CCTV:
	Blackpool North
	Blackburn
	Chorley
	Church and Oswaldtwistle
	Wigan Wallgate
	Lancaster
	Preston
	Carnforth

Railway Stations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will commission a feasibility study into the provision of a new parkway rail station for Canvey Island linking into the Fenchurch Street line at Pitsea.

Derek Twigg: There are no plans for a new parkway station for Canvey Island. The hon. Member may wish to refer to the Strategic Rail Authority's document, New Stations: A Guide for Promoters (copy in the Library of the House) which outlines the process to be followed by third party sponsors of new stations. Improvements are being made to Pitsea station at a cost of £1 million.

Railways

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress there has been towards a higher frequency train service on the North London line.

Derek Twigg: The Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL) are working on opportunities to give the London Mayor more responsibility for the delivery of the North London line. It is hoped that agreement will be reached over the course of the summer on how the Mayor will play an increased role in specification and delivery and he is now considering how enhancements to the current service can be achieved to deliver value for money.

Railways

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average increase was in long distance fares charged by each of the rail franchise holders operating in England between 2004 and 2005.

Derek Twigg: The information is not available in the form requested. The Strategic Rail Authority publishes a Rail Fares Index in its 'National Rail Trends', of which a copy has been placed in the Library of the House. This indicates that the real terms change in average prices for all the long distance operators between 2004 and 2005 was 1.5 per cent.

Railways

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent studies his Department has (a) carried out and (b) evaluated into the viability of introducing passenger community rail services on a seasonal basis.

Derek Twigg: The Strategic Rail Authority's Community Rail Development Strategy" provides the flexibility for local initiatives to reflect seasonal requirements in planning timetables. The cost of providing additional resources solely for seasonal services is high and may not always represent value for money.

Railways

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the report from the Association of Train Operating Companies advocating a congestion charge for the railways at peak hours.

Derek Twigg: There are no plans to introduce a congestion charge for the railways.

Railways

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what constraints exist on an increase in passenger capacity on the Fenchurch street to Shoeburyness rail line; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The rolling stock formations now in use on the Fenchurch street to Shoeburyness rail line are sufficient to accommodate demand within the limits prescribed to control overcrowding. Constraints that would place a limit on increased passenger capacity include the number of trains available; the fact that platforms on the Tilbury loop section of the c2c network cannot accommodate trains longer than 8 cars; and signalling headways and therefore the number of trains that can stop in the West Ham area.

Railways

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) rail bridges and (b) embankments there are over roads in the Stroud constituency; and what measures have been put in place to improve safety around them.

Karen Buck: This information is not held centrally in the Department. Rail infrastructure is a matter for Network Rail.

Railways

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 535W on Railways, how many prosecutions there were for trespassing on railways in the UK in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: I refer my right hon. Friend to the answer given on 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 920W.

Road Safety

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research has been conducted in the last five years into the safety of re-surfaced roads in all weather conditions; and what the key findings were.

Stephen Ladyman: Following the concerns expressed by Derbyshire county council in 2001 regarding the skid resistance on newly laid surfaces that were based on their own specification, the Highways Agency carried out an initial assessment of the skid resistance properties of newly laid modern surfaces. These findings were inconclusive and therefore a further phase of measurements and assessment were instigated in 2003. The findings are to be reported shortly. The Highways Agency also commissioned research in early 2005 regarding the accident risks on the modern surfaces. Findings will be reported in 2008.
	The Department for Transport, on behalf of the UK Roads Board has commissioned best practice guidance for local authorities on how and where thin surfacings and stone mastic asphalts can be applied. The results of this research will be available in the autumn.

Speed Limits

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what criteria his Department uses in its national policy on implementing speed limits on roads; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government is responsible for setting the national speed limits—the maximum limits for the different categories of roads, namely:
	70 mph for motorways and dual carriageways;
	60 mph for single carriageway roads;
	30 mph for urban street-lit roads ('restricted roads').
	The Government also sets the lower speed limits which apply to defined categories of heavy vehicles.
	Traffic authorities (local highway authorities and the Highways Agency) have the powers to set local speed limits through section 84 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, where they feel that the national limit is not appropriate, being best placed to manage their road network and set appropriate speed limits, taking into account local needs and considerations.
	To help ensure consistency in the setting of local speed limits, the Department has issued guidance, currently set out in Circular Roads 1/93.
	Many developments have taken place in speed management since 1993, and the Department consulted on draft updated guidance on setting local speed limits at the end of 2004. As well as further improving clarity and consistency, the draft seeks to incorporate important wider factors such as quality of life through, for example, striking a more sensible balance between road safety, accessibility and environmental objectives, especially in rural areas, and taking better account of the needs of more vulnerable road users.
	The consultation prompted a considerable number of wide-ranging comments, which are currently being analysed. The updated guidance on the setting of local speed limits will be published later this year.

Speed Limits

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to review statutory speed limits on UK roads.

Alistair Darling: The Government has no current plans to review the national speed limits for which it is responsible, namely:
	70 mph for motorways and dual carriageways;
	60 mph for single carriageway roads;
	30 mph for urban street-lit roads ('restricted roads').
	And the lower speed limits which apply to defined categories of heavy vehicles.
	The Department is however in the process of updating its guidance to Traffic authorities (local highway authorities and the Highways Agency) on the setting of local speed limits, which are set through section 84 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 when the national limit is not appropriate.

Taxis

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his timetable is for publishing accessibility regulations for taxis under Part 5 of the Disabilities Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: The Government's proposals to introduce Taxi Accessibility Regulations under Part 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) were announced in the House on 26 October 2003. These would see the phasing in from 2010 (for all newly licensed vehicles), of regulations in specified licensing areas (those which meet one or more of the following criteria: a licensing authority area population of a least 120,000 people; a major transport interchange; a major tourist attraction or an existing mandatory policy resulting in 100 per cent. accessible vehicles). Full compliance would be required by 2020.
	The 2010 date has been proposed to accommodate a full public consultation process, to give sufficient time for vehicle manufacturers and converters to produce new models that meet the regulations, and to give the trade sufficient time to adapt to the change.
	We are currently developing the technical specification which will form the basis for the regulations. To assist this process, the Department recently held a seminar for stakeholders from industry, organisations representing disabled people and licensing authorities to discuss both the technical and policy implications of the proposals. The views expressed at the seminar will be used to shape the final consultation package.
	In the period before regulations are introduced, local licensing authorities remain free to introduce their own accessibility policies and many have done so already.

Train Operating Companies

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that train operating companies that plan to operate a congestion charge for commuters at peak hours are not awarded rail franchises.

Derek Twigg: A wide range of fares are regulated. This includes the majority of peak commuter fares including season tickets and travelcards. Overall, regulated fares are capped so that they cannot increase by more than RPI+1 per cent. a year. Other fares are entirely a matter for train operators, and will continue to be set on a commercial basis.

Violence Against Transport Personnel

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) railway employees, (b) bus drivers and conductors and (c) taxi drivers have been the victims of offences of violence in each of the last 10 years.

Derek Twigg: (a) The number of railway staff assaulted while on duty over the last seven financial years, and recorded by the British Transport Police (BTP), is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998–99 1,225 
			 1999–2000 1,392 
			 2000–01 1,329 
			 2001–02 1,438 
			 2002–03 1,925 
			 2003–04 2,240 
			 2004–05 2,769 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Due to changes in Home Office counting rules in recording crime, introduced in April 1998, data prior to that date is non-comparable.
	2. The introduction by the Home Office of a National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) had the effect of increasing the number of recorded crimes by an average of 22 per cent. in all police forces in England and Wales. The BTP adopted the NCRS in April 2002.
	3. Figures include England, Scotland and Wales.
	(b) The number of assaults on bus crews, including conductors and inspectors, since 1995 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1995 1,938 
			 1996 2,154 
			 1997 1,899 
			 1998 1,594 
			 1999 1,680 
			 2000(14) 1,260 
			 2001 2,638 
			 2002 2,874 
			 2003(15) 953 
		
	
	(14)Data for 2000 is considered unreliable owing to poor level of reporting.
	(15)Data for 2003 excludes London operators for which no report was made by TfL.
	Notes:
	1. Data for London provided by Transport for London (TfL).
	2. Data for outside London provided by a panel of large bus operators selected by DfT.
	3. Data for 2003 is the latest available.
	4. Figures include England, Scotland and Wales.
	(c) No information is available on assaults on taxi drivers.

Virgin Trains

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of passengers who had no seat on Virgin trains from London to the North West in the last period for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: I would refer my hon. Friend to the train operator, Virgin Trains.

TREASURY

Aid Provision

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to improve EU member states' targeting of aid to the poorest countries; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The European Union has made an historic commitment to double EU aid by 2010, as part of a timetable to reach 0.7 oda/GNI by 2015. This agreement will raise aid from last year's levels of around US$40 billion to, by 2010, over $80 billion. The agreement also includes a commitment that at least 50 per cent. of new aid will go to Africa.
	The European Commission is currently reviewing its international aid policy. The UK is lobbying to improve the poverty focus of EC aid, and to ensure that a greater proportion is spend in low-income countries.

Aviation Taxation

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the introduction of new taxes on (a) domestic and (b) international UK flights to fund development aid for Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 21 June 2005
	At the 10–11 June G8 Finance Ministerial, Ministers agreed:
	"to continue our work programme on the IFF and its pilot, the IFF for Immunisation; some of the revenue proposals from the Landau report, including a pilot project, supported and led by France and Germany, for a contribution on air travel tickets to support specific development projects and to refinance the IFF".

Burma (Imports)

Vera Baird: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what tonnage of goods has been imported to the UK from Burma through (a) Teesport, (b) Harwich, (c) Felixstowe and (d) London per year on average over the past five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The tonnage of goods imported to the UK from Burma through (a) Teesport, (b) Harwich, (c) Felixstowe and (d) London are shown in the table:
	
		UK imports from Burma: general trade 2000–04 -- Tonnes
		
			 Port 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(16) Average (2000–04) 
		
		
			 Teesport(17) 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Harwich 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 
			 Felixstowe 5,624.5 6,982.3 7,259.9 7,480.1 6,478.7 6,765.1 
			 London seaport(18) 6,697.1 5,012.2 1,375.9 1,714.7 53.5 2,970.7 
			 London airports(19) 404.8 409.5 810.4 930.5 104.8 532.0 
		
	
	(16)Figures for 2004 are provisional.
	(17)Teesport includes Hartlepool and Middlesbrough.
	(18)London seaport includes Tilbury.
	(19)London airports includes Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton.
	Source:
	Overseas Trade Statistics, HM Revenue and Customs

Cost Recovery

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to update his guidance on full cost recovery for voluntary and community sector organisations; and what impact he expects this will have on (a) adult and (b) children's hospice funding.

Ivan Lewis: The Government will publish during 2005 a second edition of Guidance to Funders, which will include detailed guidance to those issuing public funds on how to implement full cost recovery.
	The NHS should be working with both children's and adults' hospices towards agreed levels of service, ensuring that the price for the agreed level of service reflects the full cost of the service to be provided, including the legitimate portion of overhead costs.
	Further information for the voluntary palliative care sector on the principles of full cost recovery, together with Healthcare Resource Groups and Payment by Results, is being prepared by The National Partnership Group for Palliative Care.

Customs and Excise (Fraud)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to review previous criminal investigations into cases of fraud by staff working for Customs and Excise; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The Internal Investigation Division of HMRC, together with the Professional Standards Unit of Law Enforcement Investigation, is currently reviewing a number of historic criminal cases involving officers of HM Customs and Excise. If the hon. Member has information pertinent to a specific case we would be pleased to look into the matter.

Customs and Excise Staff (Criminal Investigations)

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the criminal investigations which have been undertaken by Customs and Excise in respect of which legal proceedings are not ongoing into allegations of fraud and other malpractice by staff working for Customs and Excise in the last 10 years; and what the dates were of each.

Dawn Primarolo: Over the last five years HMCE have conducted 12 criminal investigations where serving officers have been identified as potential suspects. Of these cases three have been put before the courts and have been finalized. The dates and outcomes of these cases is as follows:
	2001—Officer acquitted of fraudulent evasion of VAT charge.
	2004—Officer sentenced to two years and six months for conspiracy to cheat the Revenue.
	2005—Officer sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for conspiracy to import controlled drugs.
	Of the remaining cases:
	Three have been concluded with no action being taken against the officers, as there was insufficient evidence.
	One case was dealt with as a disciplinary matter.
	Five cases are currently before the courts or awaiting trial.
	Between 1995 and 2000 criminal investigations involving members of staff would have been undertaken by the national investigation service (NIS) of HMCE, or regional criminal investigation units (CIU). These investigations would have been restricted to matters assigned to HMCE, such as VAT or Excise duty evasion and the importation of prohibited or restricted goods.

Finance Bill

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the oral statement of 7 June 2005, Official Report, column 1133, on the Finance Bill, what model was used to estimate the VAT gap.

Dawn Primarolo: A detailed explanation of the technical approach for measurement of VAT losses was provided in Measuring Indirect Tax Losses", published in November 2002, alongside the pre-Budget report 2002. An updated version of this paper entitled Measuring and Tackling Indirect Tax Losses" was published in December 2003 and the latest update was published in December 2004. Copies of all these publications can be obtained from the House Library.

HM Revenue and Customs

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons HM Revenue and Customs has not yet announced its restructuring plans; and when these plans will be announced.

Dawn Primarolo: Details of the emerging structure and organisation of the new Department have been published in the spring departmental report 2005, which was published on 16 June 2005.

HM Revenue and Customs

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much HM Revenue and Customs and its predecessor bodies spent on consultancy projects in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Information is not available for 2001–02 and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost. In respect of 2002–03 and 2003–04, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer the former Financial Secretary (Mr. Timms) gave to the hon. Members for Stratford-upon-Avon and New Forest East on 25 October 2004, Official Report, columns 1055–6W. In 2004–05, expenditure by the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise was £74 million and £61 million, respectively.

Hospital Infections

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths have been recorded in each year since 2001 where (a) Clostridium difficile, (b) glycopoptide resistant enterococci, (c) small round structured viruses and (d) Acinetobacter was (i) mentioned on the deathcertificate and (ii) also the underlying cause of death.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 28 June 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many deaths have been recorded in each year since 2001 where (a) Clostridium difficile, (b) glycopeptide resistant enterococci, (c) small round structured viruses and (d) Acinetobacter was (i) mentioned on the death certificate and (ii) also the underlying cause of death. (7220)
	In the Tenth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), deaths involving enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile can all be identified from the code A04.7. Enterocolitis is the commonest illness caused by C. difficile infection. For causes other than enterocolitis that are also known to be associated with C. difficile, it is not possible to identify from ICD codes alone the number of deaths where C. difficile actually contributed to the death. For this reason, the only routinely available mortality statistics on C. difficile are those where it was associated with enterocolitis. These figures were provided in answer to a question from Mr David Lidington MP, Hansard Written Answer 3764, page 49W on 13 June.
	Figures for glycopeptide resistant enterococci, small round structured viruses and Acinetobacter are not available from routine death certification data. These are laboratory classifications of microorganisms. Such microbiological detail is rarely used in describing the illnesses from which patients suffer or die. Furthermore, as the ICD is not designed to capture microbiological detail, there are no specific codes in ICD-10 to check whether there are any deaths for which these conditions were mentioned on the death certificate.

Hospital Infections

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the (a) remit, (b) time scale and (c) reporting date are for the special study the Office for National Statistics is undertaking with the Health Protection Agency to identify the total number of deaths where Clostridium difficile was mentioned on the death certificate.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 28 June 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking about the remit, timescale and reporting date for the special study the Office of National Statistics is undertaking with the Health Protection Agency to identify the total number of deaths where Clostridium difficile was mentioned on the death certificate.
	The remit of the special study currently being undertaken is to assess whether information on the number of deaths associated with C. difficile, beyond that available routinely, can be obtained by examining the text of death certificates with mention of illnesses other than enterocolitis that may be caused by this organism. This work is likely to take several months.
	Initial identification of the likely number of deaths requiring manual checking will be completed in July. Only when this is complete will it be possible to estimate the timescale for the manual checking and subsequent release of the results of the study.

Income Tax Returns

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the total amount of financial penalties that have been collected by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for late filing of income tax self assessment returns for each of the last five years for which information is available, broken down by (a) fines, (b) interest charges and (c) other charges; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The amount raised in respect of penalties paid for failure to submit self assessment tax returns, by the due date, in each year since 2000 is shown in the following table. The years relate to the former Inland Revenue accounting years that run to the end of October each year. Interest on late payment of penalties is not included in the table as the vast majority of interest charges arise because of late payment of the tax. There are no other charges.
	
		
			 Year to end of October Penalties paid (£ million) 
		
		
			 2000 33.01 
			 2001 36.20 
			 2002 36.45 
			 2003 37.78 
			 2004 37.38

Inheritance Tax/Stamp Duty

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the average inheritance tax paid in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) the UK and (d) each Government Office region has been in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what the average (a) stamp duty and (b)inheritance tax in London has been in each year since 1996.

Dawn Primarolo: 94 per cent. of estates do not pay inheritance tax. For estates that have paid tax, the average amount of inheritance tax in the UK is shown in the following table rounded to the nearest £1,000:
	
		
			  Average UK inheritance tax bill (£000) 
		
		
			 1996–97 85 
			 1997–98 94 
			 1998–99 97 
			 1999–2000 97 
			 2000–01 98 
			 2001–02 103 
			 2002–03 92 
			 2003–04 81 
			 2004–05 (20)83 
		
	
	(20)provisional
	Equivalent figures are not available for individual counties or regions.
	Estimates of average stamp duty arising from residential land and property transactions by country and region from 1996–97 are given in the following table. These estimates supersede figures which were given in Hansard in column 394W on 15 June 2005.
	
		Averages £
		
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 
		
		
			 North East 220 330 320 400 
			 North West 320 300 400 540 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 320 350 360 510 
			 East Midlands 330 330 420 600 
			 West Midlands 410 380 490 700 
			 East of England 520 620 800 1,080 
			 London 960 1,130 1,630 2,600 
			 South East 730 800 1,210 1,700 
			 South West 490 550 670 1,030 
			 Wales 260 350 370 470 
			 Scotland n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Northern Ireland 200 240 320 470 
		
	
	
		
			  2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 North East 500 770 790 1,030 
			 North West 610 730 1,010 1,250 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 510 570 990 1,360 
			 East Midlands 720 740 1,200 1,760 
			 West Midlands 880 1,090 1,450 1,880 
			 East of England 1,530 1,960 2,370 3,150 
			 London 3,830 4,420 4,910 5,880 
			 South East 2,220 2,720 3,240 3,900 
			 South West 1,380 1,560 2,080 2,820 
			 Wales 530 580 1,060 1,380 
			 Scotland n/a n/a n/a 1,210 
			 Northern Ireland 730 1,000 800 1,080

Inland Revenue Offices

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his Department's policy to maintain a physical presence at local inland revenue offices.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs is preparing business plans to meet its efficiency savings for 2005–08. These plans will ensure that HM Revenue and Customs still provides a face-to-face service at least as good as at present for customers who need it. It is too early to say how the plans might affect any particular office.

Managed Expenditure

Nick Herbert: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the increase in total managed expenditure between 1999–2000 and 2007–08 inclusive was in real terms.

Des Browne: Total managed expenditure in real terms from 1999–2000 to 2007–08 is shown in table 1.2 of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) 2005" (CM6521).

Pension Funds

Michael Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total tax receipts from pension funds has been in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Pension funds held by approved pension schemes do not normally pay tax. The only exceptions are where a pension fund is involved in an activity outside the terms of tax approval and that approval is withdrawn; on very rare occasions where schemes pay tax on a part of their income for instance if they are trading or have an unreduced surplus; or if they make a taxable payment to a sponsoring employer or scheme member. The amount of tax paid by pension funds under these circumstances is not known. However, the Government continue to give generous tax relief to encourage pension savings—worth over £11billion net in 2003–04.

Research Projects

Michael Jack: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the research projects being undertaken by (a) the Treasury and (b) Inland Revenue and Customs which are being paid for out of public funds.

Dawn Primarolo: The Treasury is undertaking four research projects at present which are being paid for out of public funds:
	micro foundations of optimal fiscal stabilisation policy;
	national Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) fiscal instruments project;
	a series of research seminars on the Chinese economy; and
	quantitative research to attitudes to local taxation.
	For research activity funded by the HMRC external research budget the information can be found at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/activities.htm

Tax Avoidance Schemes

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what additional taxation revenue has been collected as a consequence of the introduction of the requirement for sellers of tax avoidance schemes to register the schemes with his Department;
	(2)  what tax loopholes have been closed since 1997; and how much additional tax revenue that has been generated by such action.

Dawn Primarolo: Changes to taxation are set out in successive Financial Statement and Budget reports, alongside estimates of the effects on Government revenues anticipated at the time of their introduction. Given that tax measures interact and have complex behavioural and economic effects, it is extremely difficult to separately identify the revenue implications of past tax changes of this type for current levels of revenues.

Tax Avoidance Schemes

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many accountancy firms have been prosecuted by his Department for selling aggressive tax avoidance schemes since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC has not prosecuted any accountancy firms for selling aggressive tax avoidance schemes; selling an avoidance scheme would not normally involve activity that amounts to a criminal offence.

Tax Credits

John McFall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many awards for (a) child and (b) working tax credit there were in the constituency of West Dunbartonshire in (i) 2003–04 and (ii) 2004–05; how many awards were (A) underpaid and (B) overpaid at (1)5 April 2004 and (2) 5 April 2005; and what the total amounts involved were in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: HMRC publications include estimates of numbers of in-work families (broken down by families with and without children) in each region, local authority and constituency with tax credits for 2003–04 awards, including information on underpayments and overpayments, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2003–04. HMRC publications also provide more recent provisional estimates of numbers of in-work families, as at selected dates in 2004–05 for these areas. The constituency level breakdown refers to the constituencies that existed during the periods that the awards were in payment, but do not yet reflect constituency changes that occurred at the last general election. HMRC is currently producing new estimates based on the new constituency boundaries and hope to include them in the above publications very shortly.
	The above mentioned publications can be found on the HMRC web site at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.
	Estimates of numbers of overpayments or underpayments for 2004–05 awards at 5 April 2005 will not be available until after family circumstances and incomes for 2004–05 have been finalised.

Tax Credits

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in tax credits in 2004–05; and how much of that sum was overpayment now being claimed back.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of numbers of overpayments or underpayments for 2004–05 awards at 5 April 2005 will not be available until after family circumstances and incomes for 2004–05 have been finalised. The most recent estimates available for the net amount paid in tax credits and the net amount of overpayments is for awards at 5 April 2004 based on final family circumstances and incomes for 2003–04. They appear in the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credits Annual statistics. 2003–04 Payments." The estimates are based on samples and are subject to significant sampling uncertainty. This publication can be found on the HMRC website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-quarterly-stats.htm

Tax Credits

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the sum overpaid in tax credits in 2003–04 is estimated to be due to fraud.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs are currently reviewing a random sample of finalised 2003–04 awards—the first year of working tax credit and child tax credit—to measure the level of fraud and claimant error. However they will only be in a position to give an estimate of the level of fraud or error in next year, when the exercise has been completed.

Tax Credits

Si�n James: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Swansea East have received (a) tax credits and (b) child tax credits since each was introduced.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of in-work families (broken down by families with and without children) in each region, local authority and constituency with tax credits for 200304 awards, based on final family circumstances and incomes for 200304, appear in the HMRC statistical publication Child and Working Tax Credits Annual statistics. 200304 Geographical analyses. More recent provisional estimates for in-work families, as at selected dates in 200405, in each such area appear in the publication Child and Working Tax Credit Geographical Statistics. The estimates are based on samples and are subject to significant sampling uncertainty. These publications can be found on the HMRC web site at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.

Tax-related Convictions

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals for legislation under which accountancy firms would be required to declare tax-related convictions when filing tax returns for their clients.

Dawn Primarolo: That an accountancy firm had been prosecuted for tax-related offences is information that would already be known to HM Revenue and Customs and would be information in the public domain.

VAT

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the scale of unpaid VAT as a percentage of the theoretical liability for VAT has been in each of the last 10 years for which data are available; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to Measuring and tackling indirect tax losses 2004, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House and available on the HM Revenue and Customs website.

VAT

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) churches, (b) religious institutions and (c) sacred places in Northern Ireland have made use of the reduced VAT scheme introduced in the 2004 Budget.

Ivan Lewis: Since the introduction of the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme in April 2001, grants to refund VAT costs have been paid to 128 listed places of worship in Northern Ireland.
	Since the extension of the scheme, from 1 April 2004, 57 listed places of worship in Northern Ireland have received grants covering the full amount of VAT paid on eligible works.

Working Tax Credit

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people over state pension age have received working tax credit in the last two years, broken down by region; and what proportion of all childless recipients of working tax credit they represent in each case.

Dawn Primarolo: Estimates of the number of childless recipients of working tax credit by region at selected dates since July 2003 appear in the HMRC publication Child and Working Tax Credit Geographical Statistics. Estimates of the number of families with at least one member over state pension age who were receiving working tax credit as at April 2004 and April 2005, and the proportion of all childless family recipients of working tax credit they represent, are listed below. Both of these estimates are based on samples and are subject to significant sampling uncertainty, which is described in the above mentioned publication. This publication can be found on the HMRC web site at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm.
	
		Number and proportion of pensioner couples receiving WTCat for April 2004 and April 2005
		
			  April 2004 April 2005 
			  Pensioner Families Proportion Pensioner Families Proportion 
			 Region Numbers (thousands ) Percentage Numbers (thousands ) Percentage 
		
		
			 North East 0.7 4 0.7 3 
			 North West 0.8 5 1.7 4 
			 Yorks and The Humber 1.3 5 1.3 4 
			 East Midlands 1.0 5 1.1 5 
			 West Midlands 1.3 6 1.4 6 
			 East 0.7 5 0.8 5 
			 London 0.5 4 0.5 3 
			 South East 0.9 5 1.0 5 
			 South West 1.5 7 1.8 7 
			 Wales 1.3 7 1.5 7 
			 Scotland 1.2 4 1.3 4 
			 Northern Ireland 0.5 6 0.8 8 
			 All (including Unknown) 12.6 5 14.0 5

World Bank/IMF

Tony Baldry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will press the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to end the practice of placing economic conditions on aid, loans and debt relief to developing countries.

Ivan Lewis: The Government have recently published a new policy paper, Partnerships for Poverty Reduction: rethinking conditionally, which sets out our position on conditionality. Many developing countries and NGOs have expressed concerns about the use of conditionality in aid programmes. As set out in the policy paper, the Government believe that the relationship between donors and each developing country should be a partnership, based on shared commitments and priorities taken from the country's own poverty reduction strategy, and that progress should be measured against benchmarks from that strategy.
	The UK is working to ensure that this is reflected in all the UK's bilateral programmes with developing countries. The World Bank and IMF are both undertaking reviews of their approach to conditionality this year. In the context of these reviews, the UK will work to ensure that these institutions support country-owned programmes and that conditions are not imposed externally.

Young Mothers

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many mothers in each age cohort from 12 to 19 have given birth in each year since 200001.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. John Hemming, dated 28 June 2005
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many mothers in each age cohort from 12 to 19 have given birth in each year since 200001. (7493)
	The table below shows maternities by age of mother in the UK for each calendar year from 2000 to 2003.
	
		Maternities by age of mother, 200003, United Kingdom
		
			 Age 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 12 5 10 13 9 
			 13 40 40 50 29 
			 14 274 258 241 204 
			 15 1,348 1,290 1,202 1,152 
			 16 4,374 4,254 4,082 4,109 
			 17 10,172 9,748 9,802 9,882 
			 18 15,588 14,981 14,715 15,171 
			 19 20,221 19,553 19,039 19,322 
		
	
	Sources:
	Office for National Statistics, General Register Office Scotland, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adult Education

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether her Department will fully fund courses for adults at level 3 in Wirral in 200607.

Bill Rammell: The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). In the Department's Grant Letter of 15 November 2004, the LSC was allocated 6.8 billion in 200607 for learning participation, which includes funding for adult education.
	The White Paper Skills: Getting on in Business, getting on at work published in March 2005 set out our commitment to introduce a new National Employer Training Programme (NETP) based on the successful Employer Training Pilots. The new programme will commence from April 2006 and offer employers access to the full range of training solutions they need from including free Skills for Life and first full level 2 provision. Level 3 provision will be available through it but employers will need to make a contribution.
	The White Paper also gives a commitment to trial, in two regions, providing an additional element of subsidy alongside a contribution from the employer for level 3 training delivered flexibly through NETP. We will invest an additional 20 million per year in 200607 and 200708 to assess the impact of that way of operating prior to taking final decisions on the routing of public funds for level 3 training through the National Employer Training Programme.
	We are currently working with the LSC and others to identify the regions for the trials and expect to make an announcement shortly.

Catering

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received about the content of the Level 1 Vocationally Related Qualification in Healthier Catering.

Jacqui Smith: We have not received any representations about the content of the Level 1 Vocationally Related Qualification (VRQ) in Healthier Catering. The qualification was developed by the Department together with the Food Standards Agency and People 1st, the Sector Skills Council for the hospitality industry. People 1st are taking the lead in accrediting the qualification with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, and representations relating to content of the qualification have been made directly to them.

Chemistry Students

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 370W, on student numbers, what her assessment is of the factors behind the uptake of chemistry by undergraduate students in higher education institutions in England since 199596.

Bill Rammell: Chapter 6 of the Government's Science and innovation investment framework 200414 (HMSO, July 2004) discusses this in detail. Factors affecting the demand from students include teachers and their style of teaching; the teaching environment; the curriculum; public and media perception; and careers advice. There is also a perception by young people that science subjects are more difficult.
	Action being taken in response by Government and others includes: enhancing the quantity and quality of teachers in science and maths in schools and in further education with teacher training bursaries and Golden Hellos; supporting teachers' development through science learning centres; widening the variety of learning options to young people through curricular reforms; and raising the quality of careers education and guidance through partnership with schools and the Connexions Service.

City Academies

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will place in the Library a copy of the admissions policy of each city academy; and which academies use the national normal distribution curve of ability as part of their admissions procedure.

Jacqui Smith: The funding agreements for each academy, including their agreed admissions policies, will shortly be made publicly available on the DfES website. I will notify the Library when this has been completed and will provide the web address from where they can be obtained.
	There are no academies operating banding systems which use the national normal distribution curve of ability. The earliest academies opened in 2003, well after the introduction of the requirement for fair banding contained within the Schools Standards and Framework Act 1998.

Dartington Tech

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funds have been made available to (a) the National Learning and Skills Council and (b) Dartington Tech in each of the of the last three years; and how much will be made available to Dartington Tech in this financial year.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 21 June 2005
	The budgets allocated to the Learning and Skills Council in each of the last three financial years, as notified in the relevant grant letters to the LSC are as follows:
	
		Learning and skills council budgets 20022005
		
			  Total ( million) 
		
		
			 200203 7,310.890 
			 200304 8,095.374 
			 200405 8,674.103 
		
	
	The funds allocated to Dartington Tech from all sources by the Learning and Skills Council are:
	
		Dartington tech funding 20022005
		
			  Total ( million) 
		
		
			 2002/03 1.78 
			 2003/04 2.56 
			 2004/05 2.88 
		
	
	Provisional budgets for 2005/06 are estimated to be 2.22 million.

Dyslexia

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support is given to primary schools to help them identify children with dyslexia.

Maria Eagle: When dealing with dyslexia, as with other recognised special educational needs, schools and local authorities are expected to have regard to the SEN Code of Practice, published in November 2001, which gives practical advice on carrying out their statutory duties to identify, assess and make suitable provision for children with SEN. However, the precise arrangements for any screening and assessment arrangements are for local determination.
	Under the Primary National Strategy, the Department has produced an extensive range of specific guidance material for schools on evidence-based interventions for children with significant literacy and numeracy difficulties. A three wave model of intervention has been developed, designed to identify and support those children experiencing difficulty in literacy and/or mathematics, a good many of whom are likely to fall somewhere on the dyslexia spectrum. We have also produced guidance material on classroom strategies to enable dyslexic pupils to access learning and have recently released a new interactive CD-ROM based in-service training resource, Learning and teaching for dyslexic children. This has been developed in collaboration with the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) and the Dyslexia Institute (DI). The resource is designed to help school staff increase their awareness and understanding of the barriers to learning presented by dyslexia, and the teaching strategies that can be used to overcome them.
	The Department continues to work closely with both the BDA and DI to help raise awareness of dyslexia and encourage early intervention. We have, for example, given grant aid for the production of the BDA's Achieving Dyslexia Friendly Schools pack which promotes a whole-school approach to supporting pupils with dyslexia and provides examples of best practice. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State provided the foreword for the latest edition.
	All schools receive a School Development Grant which can be used to support improvement in any aspect of teaching and learning, including the training of staff in SEN. Local authorities may retain a proportion of this grant, under certain circumstances, to provide specific training and development for SEN and disabilities.

Dyslexia

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what procedures are in place to detect dyslexia in children below school age.

Maria Eagle: Dyslexia is extremely difficult to identify in very young children until they begin to develop their literacy skills, and therefore signs of language delay is a more appropriate indicator term in early years. Early signs of dyslexia could include difficulties with speech and language, particularly with rhyming. All early education settings, in receipt of Government funding, must have regard to the Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice, published in November 2001. This gives practical advice to those settings in carrying out their statutory duties to identify, assess and make suitable provision for children with SEN, including those with specific learning difficulties such as delayed language development.
	The Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage, for children aged 35 years, of the National Curriculum makes clear that monitoring of each child's progress is essential and that any particular difficulties in any areas of learning are identified and addressed. This should form part of the statutory Foundation Stage Profile, and the reception teacher's on-going observational assessment of individual children to record their achievements in working towards their Early Learning Goals. These set out expectations as to what most children should achieve by the end of the Foundation Stage.
	We are also working with the National Assessment Agency to provide materials to support the effective use of the Foundation Stage Profile for head teachers, and to help Year 1 teachers to continue to meet diverse learning needs.
	Where children do not make the expected progress, or demonstrate difficulties acquiring language skills, then practitioners should be able to refer to the Area Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) or Speech and Language Therapist for additional support and advice. The most effective procedures will be implemented via the Area SENCO who should be supporting practitioners to observe and assess children's progress, particularly where there is cause for concern, and then plan for next steps in learning. Local authority training to support children with difficulties (via Area SENCOs and SEN support services) will also assist in early identification.
	As part of its Primary National Strategy, the Department has issued guidance on the early teaching of phonics, Playing with sounds, which includes specific guidance on early identification and support for children who demonstrate the phonological difficulties often associated with dyslexia.
	The Department has also issued guidance for the Foundation Stage practitioners in the form of a checklist of early indicators of potential dyslexia, through its Primary National Strategy professional development materials, Learning and teaching for children with dyslexia.

EU Students

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 356W, on EU students, what her estimate is of the cost of maintenance support for 6,000 full time EU students studying in English institutions in academic year 2006/07 as a result of the changes made by her Department to regulations in the light of the ECJ ruling.

Bill Rammell: It is difficult to estimate the costs of maintenance support for EU students who may become eligible for support as a result of the regulation changes in the light of the ECJ ruling. As explained in the answer to PQ3979 there is uncertainty around forecasting numbers of students and we have limited information on the income distribution of EU students in order to estimate their entitlement to elements of the student support package. Based on that limited data we estimate that the additional cost of providing maintenance support for EU students that may become eligible for support as a result of the change in regulations would be around 10 million 1 in resource terms in financial year 200607 2 .
	1 Rounded to the nearest 10 million
	2 This estimate covers part of the costs of students becoming eligible in Academic Year 2006/07 and part of the costs of students eligible in Academic Year 2005/06 because of phasing of payments.

Faith Schools

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what commitments were given in the recent re-organisation of primary schools in Vauxhall and Everton concerning the proposed (a) Trinity Roman Catholic primary school and (b) Faith primary school; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: I am pleased to report that we are making a large commitment to the three voluntary aided schools that form part of the reorganisation in Vauxhall and Everton. Officials have been working with the Archdiocese of Liverpool and the local authority on how to proceed with the construction of the new schools. Discussions around Trinity Roman Catholic primary school are more advanced because of the urgency of the need at that school. With regard to Faith primary school, we have not yet been able to agree the design of the new school buildings and the precise level of funding, but it will be contained within the overall sum of 13 million allocated to three voluntary aided schools. This confirmation will mean that the design work can proceed as soon as possible.

Further and Higher Education

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her estimate is of the (a) proportion of the total of and (b) contribution from public funds to adult education courses which focused on (i) leisure activities and (ii) Australian cake decorating in 200304.

Phil Hope: I have set out as follows information in the form requested for Adult and Community Learning provided through local education authorities in 200304, taken from the LSC's annual report for that year. These courses include a wide range of provision for personal and community development. Precise figures for leisure learning are not available. Information about individual course titles is not collected centrally.
	
		200304
		
			  000 Pecentage of adult programme expenditure 
		
		
			 Total LSC Adult programme expenditure 2,866,232  
			 Adult and community learning (LEAs) 172,129 6.0 
			 Neighbourhood learning in deprived communities 26,849 0.9 
			 Family learning and adult learning promotion 10,869 0.4 
			 Total ACL related expenditure 209,847 7.3

Further and Higher Education

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times the Secretary of State has modified trust deeds or other instruments in exercise of the powers in section 46 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

Bill Rammell: Section 46 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 permits the Secretary of State to modify trust deeds or other instruments relating to institutions within the further education (FE) sector. There have been no instances to date where the Secretary of State has exercised this power.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's birthday honours list; and at what rank of honour.

Maria Eagle: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1059W.

Lancashire Education Authority

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much the Government have allocated to Lancashire education authority in 200506; and how much of this sum is for school buildings.

Jacqui Smith: In 200506 Lancashire education authority has been allocated a total of 743.4 million. That includes Education Formula Spending (including the Schools Formula Spending Share and the LEA Formula Spending Share) of 624.2 million; Standards Fund support of 41.3 million; School Standards Grant of 22.7 million; Teachers Pay Reform Grant of 24.0 million; and schools capital funding of 31.2 million for school buildings.

Leadership Incentive Grant

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will make a statement on the future of the leadership and training grant; and whether she plans to extend the life of the grant.

Jacqui Smith: The Leadership Incentive Grant, which began in April 2003, is a three year pump-priming initiative designed to raise standards, strengthen leadership and stimulate collaboration among communities of schools to improve teaching and learning. There are no plans to extend the grant beyond March 2006.

NVQs

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) funding and (b) training system is available for workplace assessors for NVQ level qualifications.

Phil Hope: The qualifications that are necessary to become an NVQ assessor are eligible for funding through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC). It is for local LSCs and providers to agree provision which meets the needs of local areas. In addition, other sources of funding, for example private funding, can be used to fund these qualifications.

Overseas Students

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the proportion of graduates from English universities from EU member states who went to work outside the UK following graduation in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: For 2002/03, of EU domiciled full time first degree graduates from English HE institutions whose destinations were known, my Department estimates that 21 per cent. were employed overseas six months after graduation.
	For 2001/02 and earlier years, estimates are 13 per cent., 15 per cent., 16 per cent. and 13 per cent. for 2001/02, 2000/01,1999/2000 and 1998/99 respectively.
	Estimates for 2002/03 are not comparable with estimates for 2001/02 and earlier because of changes in the source information.
	The available information on which these estimates were based, is shown in the tables.
	
		EU(21)(5507940022)domiciled full time first degree graduates from English HE institutions by first destination six months after graduation,1998/99 to 2001/02
		
			 First destination 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02 
		
		
			 Employment in the UK(23) 1,035 910 1,000 955 
			 Employment overseas(23) 855 925 925 715 
			 Further Study in the UK(23) 2,385 2,355 2,220 2,270 
			 Further Study overseas(23) 450 490 600 540 
			 Overseas students returning overseas 1,220 815 815 590 
			 Other(24) 495 355 520 600 
			 Total 6,440 5,845 6,080 5,670 
			 Survey response rate (percentage) 61 53 53 54 
		
	
	(21)Covers EU domiciled overseas students.
	(22)Figures are rounded to the nearest 5, hence constituent parts may not sum due to totals.
	(23)Location is only collected from employment and study.
	(24)Includes those students with destinations of Not available for employment', Assumed unemployed, 'Other and a small number of those employed or studying whose location is unknown.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) First Destination Supplement
	
		EU(25)(5507940026)domiciled full time first degree graduates from English HE institutions by first destination(27)six months after graduation,2002/03
		
			 First destination 2002/03 
		
		
			 Employment in the UK(28) 1,100 
			 Employment overseas(28) 1,010 
			 Further Study only 2,130 
			 Other 655 
			 Total 4,895 
			 Survey response rate (percentage) 61 
		
	
	(25)Covers EU domiciled overseas students.
	(26)Figures are rounded to the nearest 5, hence constituent parts may not sum due to totals.
	(27)Location is only collected for employment destinations.
	(28)Includes students classed as Work and further study'.
	(29)Includes those students classed as Further study only, 'Not available for employment, 'Assumed unemployed, 'Other and a small number of those in employment whose location is unknown.
	Sources:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Destination of Leavers from Higher Education
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) First Destination Supplement

Plater College

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much money Plater college has received from (a) her Department and (b) the bodies for which it is responsible in each of the last 20years.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council allocated funds to Plater college as follows:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200001 573,546 
			 200102 590,033 
			 200203 657,189 
			 200304 742,206 
			 200405 900,000 
		
	
	Information regarding the funding provided to Plater college from other sources or in previous years is not held centrally and cannot be readily retrieved without incurring disproportionate costs.

Plater College

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the date was of the Secretary of State's confirmation that there was proper governing documentation in place to enable Plater college to enter the further education sector in accordance with section 29 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992.

Bill Rammell: Plater college is one of a small group of specialist designated colleges within the further education (FE) sector. This group of colleges were designated as suitable to receive funding and entered the FE sector in 1993. The approval of the Plater college governing documentation was part of the designation process. The college was designated as an institution in the FE sector by statutory instrument 1993/435 which came into effect on 1 April 1993.

School Build (Waltham Forest)

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding has been spent on (a) building and (b) repairing schools in Waltham Forest in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Decisions on how capital resources should be invested in schools are taken by the local education authority in accordance with locally prepared asset management plans. The following table shows capital resources allocated to Waltham Forest local education authority and its schools since 1997:
	
		Capital resources allocated to Waltham Forest since 1997
		
			  000 
		
		
			 199798 1,838 
			 199899 2,823 
			 19992000 (30)23,199 
			 200001 8,116 
			 200102 9,613 
			 200203 (31)66,949 
			 200304 10,364 
			 200405 10,260 
			 200506 10,752 
		
	
	(30)Including 18.5 million PFI credit
	(31)Including 53.6 million PFI credit
	The Department is in discussions with the Waltham Forest LEA about its revenue expenditure figures. I will write to my hon. Friend when these are available.

School Meals

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school children in Lancashire (a) receive free school meals and (b) pay for school meals, broken down by district.

Jacqui Smith: The available information about take up and eligibility for free school meals is given in the tables. Information about the number of children who pay for school meals is not collected centrally.
	
		Maintained nursery and primary schools(32): school meal arrangementsPosition in January each year. 2004 and 2005 (provisional)Districts in Lancashire local education authority area
		
			  2004 
			  Number on roll(33) Number of pupils taking free school meals(34) Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 Blackburn with Darwen 154 5 3.2 6 3.9 
			 Burnley 8,736 1,641 18.8 2,015 23.1 
			 Chorley 8,754 810 9.3 980 11.2 
			 Fylde 5,002 388 7.8 446 8.9 
			 Hyndburn 8,123 1,290 15.9 1,600 19.7 
			 Lancaster 10,656 1,451 13.6 1,750 16.4 
			 Pendle 8,222 1,393 16.9 1,691 20.6 
			 Preston 11,907 1,965 16.5 2,408 20.2 
			 Ribble Valley 4,933 191 3.9 247 5.0 
			 Rossendale 6,152 824 13.4 956 15.5 
			 South Ribble 8,733 736 8.4 847 9.7 
			 West Lancashire 9,713 1,307 13.5 1,579 16.3 
			 Wyre 8,015 853 10.6 1,020 12.7 
			 Lancashire local education authority area99,100 12,854 13.0 15,545 15.7 
		
	
	
		
			  2005 (provisional)(36) 
			  Number on roll(33) Number of pupils taking free school meals(34) Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 Blackburn with Darwen 160 10 3.2 10 3.9 
			 Burnley 8,450 1,510 17.6 1,890 22.3 
			 Chorley 8,650 740 8.5 900 10.4 
			 Fylde 4,900 370 7.6 440 8.9 
			 Hyndburn 8,050 1,260 15.6 1,520 18.8 
			 Lancaster 10,410 1,370 13.2 1,660 16.0 
			 Pendle 8,110 1,310 16.1 1,600 19.7 
			 Preston 11,600 1,840 15.9 2,220 19.1 
			 Ribble Valley 4,890 180 3.6 200 4.2 
			 Rossendale 6,040 730 12.0 810 13.4 
			 South Ribble 8,540 690 8.1 780 9.2 
			 West Lancashire 9,580 1,190 12.4 1,450 15.1 
			 Wyre 7,790 790 10.1 930 11.9 
			 Lancashire local education authority area97,150 11,980 12.3 14,400 14.8 
		
	
	(32)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	2Includes dually registered pupils.
	(33)Number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the census in January.
	4Provisional figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census
	
		Maintained secondary schools(34): school meal arrangementsPosition in January each year. 2004 and 2005 (provisional)Districts in Lancashire local education authority area
		
			  2004 
			  Number on roll(35) Number of pupils taking free school meals(36) Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 Blackburn with Darwen (38) (38) (38) (38) (38) 
			 Burnley 6,474 1,168 18.0 1,479 22.8 
			 Chorley 5,805 493 8.5 554 9.5 
			 Fylde 3,883 237 6.1 284 7.4 
			 Hyndburn 5,114 867 17.0 952 18.6 
			 Lancaster 9,082 826 9.1 1,084 11.9 
			 Pendle 5,799 1,044 18.0 1,199 20.7 
			 Preston 7,281 1,223 16.8 1,416 19.4 
			 Ribble Valley 5,178 245 4.7 288 5.6 
			 Rossendale 5,451 641 11.8 752 13.8 
			 South Ribble 8,610 641 7.4 781 9.1 
			 West Lancashire 7,045 1,061 15.1 1,127 16.0 
			 Wyre 6,992 533 7.6 680 9.7 
			 Lancashire local education authority area76,694 8,979 11.7 10,596 13.8 
		
	
	
		
			  2005 (provisional)(37) 
			  Number on roll(35) Number of pupils taking free school meals(36) Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 Blackburn with Darwen (38) (38) (38) (38) (38) 
			 Burnley 6,400 1,070 16.7 1,400 21.9 
			 Chorley 5,810 430 7.4 500 8.5 
			 Fylde 3,830 240 6.2 270 7.0 
			 Hyndburn 5,090 860 17.0 920 18.1 
			 Lancaster 9,040 840 9.3 990 11.0 
			 Pendle 5,600 950 17.0 1,040 18.6 
			 Preston 7,160 1,110 15.6 1,300 18.2 
			 Ribble Valley 5,260 200 3.8 260 4.9 
			 Rossendale 5,390 560 10.4 660 12.2 
			 South Ribble 8,500 610 7.2 770 9.0 
			 West Lancashire 7,050 970 13.8 1,090 15.4 
			 Wyre 6,860 480 7.0 660 9.6 
			 Lancashire local education authority area75,960 8,320 11.0 9.850 13.0 
		
	
	(34)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	2Includes dually registered pupils.
	(35)Number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the census in January.
	4Provisional figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	(36)Not applicable
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

School Meals

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether schools that have opted out of local authority catering contracts will be eligible for access to the 280 million package to improve school dinners announced by her Department on 30 March.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 27 June 2005
	Over the three years 200506 to 200708 all maintained schools in England, regardless of their type of school meal provision, will receive a share of the 220 million set aside to help local education authorities and schools strengthen their support for healthy eating and to provide better quality food. Of this, 30 million each year will go to schools to help them meet transitional costs, and 30/50/50 million will go to LEAs to enable them to support schools to improve the quality of their meals, with an emphasis on schools in deprived areas and schools starting from a low base.
	The first instalment of this additional funding will be available to schools and LEAs this autumn. Further details about the distribution of both grants between individual local authorities and schools will be announced over the summer.

School Meals

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in (a) what circumstances and (b) in how many cases in the past three years she and her predecessor exercised powers to direct a school to meet school lunch standards.

Jacqui Smith: We have not directed any school to meet school lunch standards during the past three years.

Special Schools

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many special schools have closed since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: There have been 240 special school closures in England within the period January 1997 to January 2005, with some 121 schools opening in the same period (nine of which subsequently closed and are counted above) giving a net reduction in special schools of 119 in the period. This compares to 234 closures between 198697.

Spending per Pupil

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the spending per pupil was in (a) primary, (b) secondary and (c) special schools in (i)1985 and (ii) in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: The information is as follows.
	
		School based expenditure(37)per pupil(38)in cash terms 198586 and 200304(39)(5507940040)in Englandas reported by LEAs as at 23 June 2005 -- 
		
			  198586 200304 
		
		
			 Primary 820 2,750 
			 Secondary 1,180 3,550 
			 Special 4,040 14,050 
		
	
	(37)School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees, charges, rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure.
	(38)Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending LEA maintained schools and are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	(39)19992000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the ODPM to the section 52 form from the DfES. 200304 is the latest year for which figures are available.
	(40)The main difference between 198586 and 200304 is that meals and milk are no longer excluded and that no adjustments for balances are now made. However, 198586 also includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory payments and other indirect employee expenses, while in 200304 only the schools element of these categories is included. Also, for some LEAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LEA part of the section 52 form in 200304 and would therefore be excluded, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources.
	Note:
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and are in cash terms.

Sure Start

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether she expects the current level of Sure Start provision in Everton to continue.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 27 June 2005
	Everton in Liverpool has benefited from both the trailblazer Sure Start West Everton and Breckfield local programme approved in 1999 and the Everton Early Childhood Centre (EEC) approved in February 2001 which are based on the same site. The building was developed with local and national Government funding including both the Sure Start and Early Excellence programmes. The Sure Start local programme and the EEC were brought together and designated as one of the first integrated children's centres in June 2003.
	For 2005/06 the Sure Start revenue funding for this children's centre is currently:
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 Sure Start Local Programme Revenue 787,623 
			 Early Excellence Centre Revenue 75,647 
			 Total Revenue Funding 2005/06 863,270 
		
	
	From 2006/07 funding will begin to taper for the trailblazer local programmes as part of the planned process of incorporation in to mainstream services. Everton's Sure Start local programme funding for 2006/07 will be 590,717. Early Excellence Centres have been funded until March 2006. However, Liverpool local authority will receive children's centre funding of 2,955,804 for 200406 and 9,025,886 for 200608. This is to support existing children's centres like Everton as well as to develop more. We expect Early Years provision to be maintained and to grow through children's centres, so that by 2010 there is a children's centre for every community. The Sure Start budget will more than double to 1.8 million by 2008. Exactly how and when this funding is used to support children's centres is a matter for the local authority to decide based on their assessment of existing provision, levels of deprivation and families needs.

Tuition Fees

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was raised from higher education tuition fees in each education authority in England in (a) 200203, (b) 200304 and (c) 200405; from how many students the sums were raised in each case; and what the average payment was in each year.

Bill Rammell: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Abduction of African children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department has taken to prevent abduction of African children in England and Wales.

Paul Goggins: Under section 1(1) of the Child Abduction Act 1984, it is an offence for a person connected with a child under the age of 16 (for example a parent or guardian) to take or send the child out of the UK without the appropriate consent.
	The Act also criminalises abduction by other persons. Under section 2(1) of the 1984 Act, a person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, he takes or detains a child under 16 so as to: (a) remove him from the lawful control of any person having lawful control of the child; or (b) keep him out of the lawful control of any person entitled to lawful control of the child.
	Ultimately, it is for the police to decide whether to prefer any charges and the Crown Prosecution Service to determine whether to proceed with a prosecution. Only the courts can decide if an offence has been committed.
	The maximum penalty, on summary conviction, for an offence of abduction is six months' imprisonment or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum or both. The maximum penalty, on conviction on indictment, is seven years' imprisonment.

Anti-terrorism Legislation

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to implement the recommendations made by Lord Carlile of Berriew QC in his review of the operation of anti-terror laws.

Charles Clarke: I will shortly be placing copies in the House Library of the Government response to Lord Carlile. This will outline progress made on the recommendations made in his report on the operation in 2004 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
	I am grateful to Lord Carlile for the work that he has undertaken which has found that overall the Act continues to be fit for purpose.

Biometric Information

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has collated on which other countries are (a) planning and (b) using biometric information on (i) passports and (ii)identification cards.

Andy Burnham: All the Schengen states will be required to use biometrics in passports under Council Regulation 2252/2004. These biometric are facial images and finger prints, which will be introduced by 18 months and three years respectively for the date of adoption. Non-Schengen states may choose to follow the requirements, though they would not be bound by the timetable. Similar information has not been collated for Non-EU states. All ED member states which issue identity cards are considering introducing biometrics to increase security. This is part of a world-wide move towards using biometrics in travel and other identity documents, not an EU requirement as there is no legal basis for the Community to act on identity cards. Our information on current procedures is that biometric information is only currently stored on the Italian national identity card. Among non-EU states, Hong Kong currently includes biometric information on its national identity cards and Thailand is planning their introduction.

Biometric Information

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Passport Service expects to issue biometric passports in accordance with US requirements.

Andy Burnham: The UK Passport Service plans to commence the introduction of biometric passports in February 2006 and to be producing the new passport for all its customers by end of July 2006. The new passport will comply in all respects to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards for biometric passports.

Biometric Information

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the cost of producing biometric passports (a) to comply with US requirements and (b) with a facial recognition biometric obtained in the most cost-effective manner.

Andy Burnham: The UK Passport Service has not finally completed commercial negotiations with its security printers Security Printing and Systems Ltd on the production of the biometric passport, so is not in a position to provide the cost estimate requested.

Biometric Information

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the accuracy of biometric readings.

Tony McNulty: We have taken a number of steps to assess the accuracy of biometric readings. We have closely reviewed leading scientific evidence in the field; consulted with biometric experts from academia and industry; sought to build on the experience and knowledge of other organisations, such as IND, PITO and Communications-Electronic Security Group's (CESG's) biometric readings group and we have conducted a review of the experiences of other examples of biometric systems, including systems holding millions of sample records. Current thinking is that three separate biometrics will be recorded (iris image; fingerprints and facial recognition) which would increase the accuracy of biometric readings from individuals. In addition, we will keep emerging research in this field under constant review and it is envisaged we will hold performance tests during procurement and the early phase of implementation of the ID card scheme.

Biometric Information

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the merits of automatic face recognition technology; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office and UKPS (UK Passport Service) have examined the use of facial recognition as part of the biometric enrolment trial. This was not a technology evaluation but supported the view that facial recognition has applications in 1-to-1 matching but is not suitable for matching against very large numbers of records. Facial recognition is still being considered as one of the biometric technologies which may be used for Identity Cards. Police Information Technology Organisation (PITO) has an active biometrics programme and maintains awareness of many biometric and human identification technologies, including facial recognition. PITO is engaged in producing a facial images database for identification purposes as part of the Facial Images National Database (FIND) project which should complete in 2006. UKPS is currently assessing the suitability of automatic face recognition technology for use within the passport application process for detecting fraudulent applications. A standalone Automatic Face Recognition (AFR) system is being deployed in the UKPS's seven fraud and intelligence units to help prove the concept and to establish the benefits of using AFR, and assist in the development of technical and operational specifications for full system integration. The UKPS plan to complete their assessment by the end of 2005.

CCTV Cameras

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many CCTV cameras are currently operated by police in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: CCTV cameras in England and Wales are operated by a wide variety of organisations including the police, as well as local authorities, the retail sector and train operating companies. Information on the number of cameras operated by the police is not held centrally.

Criminal Assets

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each police force recovered from the proceeds of crime in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Police force performance on recovering the proceeds of crime is measured by the value of cash forfeitures and confiscation orders obtained by a force. The value of orders obtained by each police force in 200405 is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Police force Total value of cash forfeitures and confiscation orders obtained by the police service in 200405 
		
		
			 Metropolitan Police Service 26,426,648.39 
			 National Crime Squad 11,940,373.79 
			 Lancashire Constabulary 3,743,146.94 
			 Greater Manchester Police 3,453,431.70 
			 Merseyside Police 2,908,711.21 
			 Cambridgeshire Constabulary 2,695,434.41 
			 Derbyshire Constabulary 2,540,453.70 
			 West Yorkshire Police 2,265,457.57 
			 City of London Police 2,211,123.08 
			 West Midlands Police 2,053,433.63 
			 Avon and Somerset Constabulary 1,959,930.23 
			 Kent Police 1,926,936.62 
			 Police Service of Northern Ireland 1,769,094.32 
			 Nottinghamshire Police 1,336,612.41 
			 South Yorkshire Police 1,330,077.48 
			 Devon and Cornwall Constabulary1,182,881.95 
			 Cumbria Constabulary 1,124,156.05 
			 Northamptonshire Police 1,063,417.47 
			 Dorset Police 1,050,401.06 
			 Sussex Police 1,002,181.72 
			 West Mercia Constabulary 999,467.06 
			 Norfolk Constabulary 911,868.06 
			 Northumbria Police 909,645.62 
			 Leicestershire Constabulary 891,588.29 
			 Thames Valley Police 750,663.61 
			 Surrey Police 648,947.84 
			 Cheshire Constabulary 541,557.19 
			 Wiltshire Constabulary 482,559.71 
			 Durham Constabulary 477,399.45 
			 Gwent Police 442,673.90 
			 Hertfordshire Constabulary 440,353.93 
			 Suffolk Constabulary 430,715.69 
			 South Wales Police 400,577.52 
			 Gloucestershire Constabulary 390,468.23 
			 Hampshire Constabulary 333,792.86 
			 Lincolnshire Police 307,912.23 
			 British Transport Police 281,376.94 
			 Staffordshire Police 260,405.82 
			 Humberside Police 255,656.67 
			 Cleveland Police 230,220.07 
			 North Yorkshire Police 205,081.94 
			 Dyfed-Powys Police 201,061.20 
			 Essex Police 192,804.57 
			 Bedfordshire Police 154,828.69 
			 North Wales Police 109,758.12 
			 Warwickshire Police 57,357.29

Criminal Records Bureau

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of implementing the Basic Disclosure by the Criminal Records Bureau and if he will bring forward legislation to activate the offence of Enforced Subject Access under Section 56 of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Andy Burnham: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) will undertake a feasibility study into the launch of a Basic Disclosure service during the current financial year. The offence of Enforced Subject Access under Section 56 of the Data Protection Act will be commenced in England and Wales at such time as the CRB is providing a Basic Disclosure service.

Identity Cards

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the robustness of available technology to meet the requirements of the proposed identity card scheme.

Andy Burnham: Given constant advancement of biometric technology and the need to conduct a fair and thorough procurement process, rather than focus on the technology available at the present time, much of which may be superseded by the time cards are first issued, we are working with other Departments and with expert advisers to set the requirements for performance of future technology. However, naturally, this work has included a review of baseline technologies available now. In particular this has included: a review of the technology used elsewhere in government; engagement with other governments with experience in the field (e.g.US, Hong Kong, Philippines, UAE); in depth review of current and emerging scientific evidence in the field; engagement with independent experts in the field (e.g. Communications-Electronic Security Group, National Physical Laboratory, San Jose University, National Institute of Standards and Technology, PA consulting).

Identity Cards

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has collated on which other countries have an identity card scheme; and when each scheme was introduced.

Andy Burnham: Information collated by the Home Office on other countries with an identity card scheme, which includes some introduction dates, is available in the publication Entitlement Cards and Identity FraudA Consultation Paper [CM 5557]

Identity Cards

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many digits he expects to be printed on identity cards; and what information he has collated on the number of digits required on passports and identity cards by other countries.

Andy Burnham: No fingerprints will be printed on the face of the identity card. Biometric information, including under current plans 10 fingerprints, will be held securely on the National Identity Register. Some of the fingerprint data could be held in an encrypted form on the card chip. All the Schengen states will be required to use biometrics in passports under Council Regulation 2252/2004. Fingerprint biometrics (rather than just fingerprints) will be introduced within three years of adoption. Non-Schengen states may choose to follow the requirements, although they would not be bound by the timetable. Other EU member states which issue identity cards are considering introducing biometrics to increase security and some, for example Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, already collect one or more fingerprints as part of their national identity card schemes. Among non-EU states, Hong Kong and the Philippines currently include fingerprint information on their identity card schemes.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the assumption in CM 6020 that once the validity period expires, an automatic replacement identity card would be provided free of charge, remains the Government's policy.

Andy Burnham: No such assumption was made in CM 6020 on 12 November 2003 and decisions have yet to be taken about the detailed fee structure for ID cards.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 June 2005, Official Report, columns 32021W, on on-line identity verification, whether the costs of infrastructure additional to the parts of the central IT infrastructure which will support identity verification services is included in the 584 million figure.

Andy Burnham: The current best estimate of the total average annual running costs for issuing passports and ID cards to UK nationals and running a verification service is 584 million at 200506 prices and has been published in the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). This includes the cost of operating and maintaining the verification services. As outlined in the RIA user organisations will be expected to cover the cost of biometric readers.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, columns 15758W, on identity cards, 
	(1)  if he will disaggregate the total average annual running costs for issuing passports and identity cards to show the estimated costs for (a) online verification to validate identity cards and other identity enquiries from user organisations, (b) operating and maintaining (i)those parts of the central IT infrastructure that will support identity verification services and (ii) additional central infrastructure and (c) recording and matching face, fingerprint and iris biometric information;
	(2)  what his estimate is of the cost of (a) introducing and (b) maintaining a database containing (i) facial biometrics and (ii) facial, iris and fingerprint biometrics in combination for the population of the UK who are 16years and over.

Andy Burnham: It would not be appropriate to release this information in advance of procurement as this may put at risk the Department's ability to secure value for money.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information will be held on the national identity card register to establish a person's entitlement to free NHS treatment.

Tony McNulty: The information to be kept on the National Identity Register is set out in Schedule 1 of the Identity Cards Bill. Entitlement to free treatment is not included in the Schedule, neither is it a registrable fact as defined in Clause 1(5) of the Identity Cards Bill. This means that such information could not be held on the National Identity Register unless approved by further primary legislation. However, information contained on the National Identity Register, for example about a person's immigration status, could be relevant to decisions on whether an individual is entitled to free NHS treatment.

Identity Cards

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which commercial companies his Department has held discussions about the proposed identity card scheme.

Andy Burnham: The Identity Cards programme is currently in the pre-procurement development phase. In conducting its activities, discussions have taken place with a range of commercial organisations. These discussions have, to date, focused on technical feasibility, benefits case development and general communications with the market as part of the early market engagement recommended by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) as best practice in public sector procurements. The ultimate aim of conducting these discussions is to ensure that an appropriate and effective procurement strategy is developed resulting in a competitive procurement and successful implementation.

Identity Cards

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to issue identity cards to newly arrived asylum seekers.

Tony McNulty: There are no plans to issue newly arrived asylum seekers with Identity Cards as it is difficult to check the biographical footprint of asylum seekers as they arrive in the UK without any documents to confirm their identity. Asylum seekers are issued with biometric Asylum Registration Cards (ARC) which contains a fingerprint of the individual that it has been issued to. The biometric ARC card is used to prevent an individual lodging multiple applications for asylum. Clause 2(4) of the Identity Cards Bill allows an entry for an individual to be made in the Register (whether or not he has applied to be, or is entitled to be entered in it) if the Secretary of State considers that the addition of the entry to the Register would be consistent with the statutory purposes. This clause will allow a failed asylum seeker to be entered into the Register to ensure that they cannot assume a different identity while they remain in the UK or if they make a subsequent attempt to enter the UK. An asylum seeker who is granted leave to remain will be entitled to be registered on the ID cards scheme.

Identity Cards

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms will be put in place to ensure the security of the National Identity Register.

Andy Burnham: In the interests of maintaining the security of the National Identity Register, it is not possible to reveal any proposed security mechanisms for the Scheme. However, the National Identity Register will be a highly secure system, and will be formally Security Accredited in accordance with Government policy. The policy can be found at http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/cisa/publications/index.asp. The National Identity Register will also comply with the Data Protection Act and other relevant legislation.
	The programme is working with acknowledged security specialists, Communication Electronic Security Group, National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre and other organisations to ensure appropriate measures are in place to maintain a secure and resilient system.
	The Identity Cards Bill includes a clause which makes it a criminal offence to disclose information without lawful authority. This includes information relating to the Register, the issuing of ID Cards or the functions of the National Identity Scheme Commissioner. This is set out in clause 29 of the Bill. A person found guilty of an offence under this section is liable for up to two years imprisonment. A separate offence of tampering with the Register attracts a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.

Identity Cards

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Department will take to ensure that identity cards will not be required to be produced by those subject to stop and search, with particular reference to stop and search of black and ethnic minority individuals.

Andy Burnham: There will be no requirement to carry an ID card at all times, this is specifically prohibited in the Identity Cards Bill, in addition police officers do not have a power under the Bill to stop someone and demand to see an identity card although there is nothing to prevent an individual choosing to provide an identity card voluntarily.

Identity Cards

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contingency plans the Department is making in the event that the identity card technology goes wrong.

Andy Burnham: We are planning for the scheme to comply with industry best practice business continuity and disaster recovery processes to ensure that the core business is able to function in the event of a major disruption or loss of technical infrastructure

Identity Cards

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment the Department has made of the extent to which the introduction of identity cards will eliminate identity theft perpetrated over the telephone.

Andy Burnham: The Identity Cards Programme team is working closely with experts in the field of remote authentication (i.e. verifying people's identities when using the internet, telephone and post) in order to establish a more secure method of verifying an identity than currently possible.
	Reference research has shown that use of the ID card with certain processes will permit an improvement in the level of assurance possible via remote authentication.
	This research to date has focused on the concept of a challenge response process, which allows for the generation of a one-off password for a person to use for an individual transaction. Due to the one-time nature of the response generated, anyone trying to impersonate another individual to obtain information about others for criminal purpose or to perpetrate fraud will be greatly hindered.
	Specific details regarding the research cannot be made public due to issues of commercial sensitivity prior to procurement.

Identity Cards

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he expects information held on individuals under the proposals in the Identity Cards Bill to be shared with (a) international agencies and (b) other governments.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The Identity Cards Bill does not allow for information in the National Identity Register to be provided without the consent of the individual other than in the specific circumstances outlined as follows.
	There are very strictly limited circumstances, outlined in Clause 20(2) of the Identity Cards Bill, when information could be provided without consent for any of the purposes specified in sections 17(2)(a) to (d) of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. This would allow for the disclosure of information for the purposes of prevention and detection of crime overseas. This may involve the provision of information to international agencies or other governments.
	However, provision of this information can only be made subject to the rules laid out in Clause 23 of the Identity Cards Bill. In addition, under Clause 20(3), the Secretary of State can prohibit the provision of information without consent for use in overseas proceedings, under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, as specified in section 18 of that Act. For example the Secretary of State might do this if he considered that it would be more appropriate for these proceedings to be conducted in a court of the United Kingdom.

Identity Cards

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he expects biometric details of victims of (a) domestic violence, (b) rape and (c) sexual abuse would be removed from the National Identity Register to protect the individual.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 23 June 2005
	Removing the biometrics of these victims would not add any additional protection to the individual. Thus, biometrics would not be removed from the National Identity Registerthey are necessary to ensure that a person does not attempt to enrol into the Scheme more than once. However, we recognise the importance of security of personal details to vulnerable members of society. Our processes are being designed to ensure this is maintained.
	For example, once enrolled, biometrics are used for two purposes: (1) to verify that a person is the authentic card holder, and (2) to authorise release of information during a verification check. In each of these instances, there would be security measures in place to ensure that person conducting the transaction is the actual cardholder and is providing their own biometric. A release of information in the second instance can usually only happen with consent of the individual involved.
	In cases where information is provided without consent those requesting information are strictly limited and traceable.
	Those responsible for administering the scheme including administration staff will not themselves be authorised to perform a search for a cardholder's individual records. As the National Identity Register will be held at a high protective marking, only security cleared staff will have access to the National Identity Register. The independent oversight and auditing of working processes in data centres would detect any such search in real-time and identify those responsible. Clause 29 of the Identity Cards Bill makes it a criminal offence, subject to imprisonment for up to two years and/or a fine, for any person to provide without lawful authority, information from the scheme to a third party.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 June 2005, Official Report, columns 15758W on identity cards, if he will disaggregate the total average annual running costs for supporting users of the on-line verification service via a helpdesk.

Andy Burnham: It would not be appropriate to release this information in advance of procurement as this may put at risk the Department's ability to secure value for money.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what components are included by the current best estimate of 93 for the unit cost of an adult passport and identity card given in paragraph 22 of the Identity Cards Bill Regulatory Impact Assessment.

Andy Burnham: The estimate of 93 includes all the operational costs for issuing Identity Cards and passports to UK nationals for the 10 year validity period. It excludes the costs of the verification service and equipment, such as card readers, required by user organisations. It includes allowance for contingency, optimism bias and non-recoverable VAT.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the set-up costs that will be incurred after the first identity cards and biometric passports are issued as referred to in paragraph 19 of the Regulatory Impact Assessment on the Identity Cards Bill.

Andy Burnham: It would not be appropriate to release this information in advance of procurement as it is commercially sensitive. The identity cards programme is in the pre-procurement phase, during procurement this information could be used by suppliers to estimate what we expect to pay for the contracts they are bidding for. This would prejudice the Department's ability to secure value for money solutions from the market.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on how married people who wish to use both their pre-marriage and post-marriage name will be dealt with under the proposed identity card scheme; and whether it will be possible for them to have two cards.

Andy Burnham: Final decisions have not yet been taken regarding the name policy for the Identity Cards scheme. However, we are aware of the needs of those who use both their pre-marriage and post-marriage names. The Identity Cards Bill allows for a person to include other names by which they are Known on the National Identity Register and we are looking at various solutions on how to represent this on the card for UK citizens. We continue to investigate how both names could be used for verification purposes. Current work indicates that it should not be necessary to provide two cards to enable married people to use both their pre-marriage and post-marriage names. In the case of foreign nationals, their name on the card will be required to match what is on their passport for immigration purposes.

Identity Cards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a decision has been made on the (a) number and (b) location of centres where biometric information may be collected.

Andy Burnham: We are currently planning a network of enrolment centres where applicants to the ID cards scheme will have a biometrics recorded and a short meeting with a member of the new agency's staff. Work on defining the number and location of centres is not yet complete. On 21 December 2004, Official Report, column 171WS, my right hon. Friend the Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Mr.Browne) provided a written statement to the House announcing some 70 new offices being required for the first phase of the UKPS Authentication by Interview (ABI) project, while this forms part of the building blocks towards the identity cards programme these offices do not necessarily form part of the enrolment centre provision. The identity cards programme enrolment network is being designed to enable people to obtain a card with minimum inconvenience. The number and location of centres is being developed based on: Convenience for applicant, considering travel distance and time, travel to work areas, public transport availability and patterns: Minimum workable size of centre, considering staffing issues, security and avoiding collusion: Overall cost of the enrolment centre network. In addition to the enrolment centres the identity cards programme enrolment plans also include the use of mobile facilities, although at this stage it is not yet known how many of these facilities there will be.

Identity Cards

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what failure rate in recognising biometric data in the proposed identity cards would be considered acceptable.

Tony McNulty: The level of acceptability in relation to biometric check failure rates is a balance between biometric performance and system cost. The exact level is still being determined through stakeholder consultation. Current thinking is that several biometric readings will be recorded, i.e. fingerprint, iris image and facial recognition, which would increase the accuracy of any biometric checks.

Identity Fraud/Theft

Paul Beresford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of his estimate of the total cost of identity fraud constitutes (a) credit card fraud and (b) identity theft.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 20 June 2005
	The Cabinet Office study published in 2002 estimated that the minimum cost of identity fraud to the economy is in excess of 1.3 billion per annum. The study estimates that 370 million of the overall figure is attributable to credit card fraud. This includes use of counterfeit cards, cards lost or stolen and card not present fraud. All of the costs estimated in the Cabinet Office study are associated with identity theft. Losses, however, are not generally incurred until a criminal has obtained a victims personal details through identity theft and used them to commit fraud.

Identity Fraud/Theft

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) methodology and (b) sources were used for the calculation of the cost of identity theft in Appendix B of Identity Fraud: A Study, of July 2002.

Charles Clarke: The Cabinet Office formed a cross-departmental team to estimate the cost of identity fraud to the UK economy. The study involved examination of direct financial losses, such as those incurred when false identities are used to fraudulently obtain credit. It also examined the costs incurred by enforcement and other agencies that encounter individuals who use false identities to obtain services fraudulently. This included costing the resources needed to carry out investigations. The sources that were used for the calculation of the cost of identity fraud were, HM Customs and Excise (now HM Revenue and Customs), Department of Health, Department of Work and Pensions, Immigration Service, Association of Payment Clearing Services, insurance companies and CIFAS, the UK's Fraud Prevention Service.

Illegal Labour

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which sections of commerce, agriculture or industry feature most prominently as employers of illegal labour.

Tony McNulty: This information is not collected but the immigration service carries out visits to employers in relation to illegal migrant working on an intelligence-led basis, and the breakdown of this operational activity provides the best available indicator of which sectors feature most prominently as employers of illegal labour. During the financial year 200405, the main business sectors visited were: hospitality (42 per cent. of visits); carwashes and garages (8 per cent.); food production (6 per cent.); retail (6 per cent.); employment and cleaning agencies (5 per cent.); factories and warehouses (5 per cent.); sex industry (5 per cent.); nursing and care homes (1 per cent.); construction industry (1 per cent.); sports entertainment (1 per cent.); horticulture and agriculture (1 per cent.); other sectors (4 per cent.). A further 15 per cent. of visits were made to the home addresses of individuals suspected of working in the United Kingdom illegally in various sectors.

Immigration

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he plans to take to tackle forgery of indefinite leave to remain documents.

Charles Clarke: In order to promote effective end-to-end migration control and ensure that the UK's borders are secure, tackling forgery of indefinite leave to remain documents is a priority for the immigration and nationality directorate (IND).
	In line with the EU free movement of persons directive (directive 2004/38/EC), with which IND must comply by 30 April 2006, steps are being taken to replace the current system of residence documentation issued to EEA nationals and their family members with a new suite of secure documents. Close consultation with the national document fraud unit (NDFU) has established consideration of document security at the very forefront of the design and procurement process. The prevention of forgery and abuse is an issue that will continue to determine the format that these new residence documents will take.
	In 2003 the United Kingdom issued a new form of secure residence permit sticker for other foreign nationals. This is a common-format permit issued by all member states of the European Union and European economic area and is produced to a design in which the United Kingdom participated. The permit contains a digital image of the holder and is applied in their passport after the document's authenticity and the holder's entitlement have been verified. To date no falsifications of this document have been identified.

Immigration

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is given to immigration officials on assessing whether passports and other immigration documents are genuine.

Charles Clarke: The lead role in protecting the United Kingdom from the use of fraudulent travel documentation is taken by the immigration and nationality directorate intelligence service (INDIS), national document fraud unit (NDFU), which is recognised both at home and abroad as a leader in its field.
	Forgery detection training is provided to all new immigration officers, assistant immigration officers and entry clearance (or visa) officers as part of their induction courses. The NDFU delivers a comprehensive range of intermediate and advanced level training to the immigration service's (IS) forgery officers, who provide consolidation training to their IS colleagues at local ports and enforcement offices.
	The NDFU provides IS staff and forgery officers with up to date detection equipment and frequent information about all aspects of travel document abuse. It also provides other staff working within the immigration and nationality directorate (IND) with training and forgery detection information and equipment.

Immigration

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the backlog is of applications for each category of leave to remain in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: As at 31 May 2005, there were 57,792 outstanding non-asylum applications for further leave to remain. These consisted of 20,107 charged applications, which represents a normal work in progress level which we expect to decide in line with our current service standards as shown on the immigration and nationality directorate website, and 37,685 non-charged applications. The non-charged cases include 10,074 European cases, 8,538 European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) cases and 12,731 indefinite leave from exceptional leave cases. ECAA casework was suspended until recently and has now resumed which has caused these applications to be delayed.

Immigration

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases the detention of children under immigration law for more than 28 days has been subject to ministerial authorisation since 1 January 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not part of the published statistics in the public domain.
	Children are usually detained for very short periods. We only seek to detain children over 28 days in exceptional circumstances.

Iranian Repatriation

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his Department's current policy on the repatriation of Iranian nationals who are seeking asylum in the United Kingdom is.

Tony McNulty: Asylum and human rights claims by Iranian nationals are, like those of all claimants, from all countries, considered on their individual merits in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). If the claimant meets the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Refugee Convention, they are granted asylum. If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the ECHR, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave.

Passports

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the minimum technical requirements are for a biometric passport to conform to the International Civil Aviation Organisation recommendations; and what estimate he has made of (a) the lowest possible total cost of enabling the Passport Service to issue such passports and (b) the unit cost for each such passport issued, broken down by main component.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The minimum technical requirements to meet ICAO standards in addition to the requirements for security features and the presentation of personal data are as follows:
	1. Use of a contact-less micro-processor chip. The chip must conform to the ISO 14443 standard.
	2. The data within the chip to be arranged within an agreed file structure in accordance with the ICAO Specification on the Logical Data Structure.
	3. The photo image to be stored in accordance with the emerging ISO Facial Standard 197945.
	4. The chip embedded data to be protected by a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) developed in accordance with the ICAO PKI Specification.
	The UK Passport Service have not finally concluded commercial negotiations with its security printers Security Printing and Systems Ltd. on the production of the biometric passport, and is not in a position to provide an estimate of the unit cost of the passport.

Police (Hertfordshire)

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on funding to facilitate the establishment of an anti-corruption policy for Hertfordshire constabulary.

Hazel Blears: The Government have put significant extra resources into the police service in England and Wales. Expenditure on policing to be supported by Government grant or spent centrally on services for the police has risen by over 39 per cent. or 3 billion between 200001 and 200506.
	No specific provision is made available to tackle local corruption. The resources that each force allocates to tackle this problem is an operational matter for the chief constable. You may therefore wish to redirect your query to him.

Prevention of Terrorism Act

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been subject to the control orders introduced by the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005; and how many of those individuals were previously detained under existing powers relating to terrorism.

Charles Clarke: I refer the right hon. Member to my statement of 16 June when I made my first three monthly report to Parliament on the exercise of control order powers.

Proceeds of Crime Act

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value is of the funds so far recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 as a result of the actions of law enforcement agencies in Hampshire.

Hazel Blears: Information is not available in the form requested. The total value of cash forfeiture orders and confiscation orders obtained by Hampshire constabulary since implementation of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 in March 2003 is 155,425. In addition, between 200304 and 200405 Hampshire constabulary obtained confiscation orders under earlier legislation with a total value of 476,816. Information on the value of orders obtained by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in Hampshire is not available.

Retinal Scans

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Department has to allow the use of retinal scans in the police national computer database.

Hazel Blears: At present there are no requirements to retain retinal scan data. If a case was made retention of such data would be on IDENT1 (the police service identification platform).

Sexual Offences Act 2003

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 6 June 2005, Official Report, column 244W, on Sexual Offences Act 2003, what data will be collected to evaluate the effectiveness of the Act.

Paul Goggins: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, we will collect statistical data relating to recorded crime, prosecutions and convictions, as well as evidence from statutory and non-statutory bodies who work within the field of sexual offending.

Vehicle Checks

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road-side vehicle checks were carried out by the Metropolitan Police in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: Information is not collected in the broad terms requested.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Big Lottery Fund

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what consultations he has on the appointment of a person to represent Northern Ireland on the Big Lottery Fund.

David Hanson: The appointment of a person to represent Northern Ireland will be considered once the Big Lottery Fund has been legally established. There will be discussions with DCMS about the arrangements for making this appointment.

Bombardier C-Series Programme

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance is provided by his Department to Bombardier's C-Series programme.

Angela Smith: The UK Government have signed a Letter of Intent with Bombardier Inc. and Short Brothers plc agreeing in principle to provide a combination of Launch Investment and Selective Financial Assistance towards the development and production of wings, engine nacelles and composite empennage structures for the Bombardier C-Series aircraft programme. The total package of up to 180 million comprises a 25 million repayable Launch Investment contribution and 30 million Selective Financial Assistance from Invest NI and 125 million repayable Launch Investment from DTI. This is subject to a programme launch decision by Bombardier.

Business Grants

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding has been allocated to (a) Business Start Up, (b) Promoting Entrepreneurs and (c) Enterprise Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: The information is as follows.
	(a) Invest NI has allocated the following funding to start-ups broken down by three market segments targeted by entrepreneurs, ie Global, Export, and Locally focused within Northern Ireland.
	
		
		
			 Market segment 200203 200304 200405 Total 
		
		
			 Externally focused 3,724,721.00 4,073,934.00 2,915,158.00 10,713,813.00 
			 Globally focused 0.00 0.00 2,169,167.00 2,169,167.00 
			 Locally focused (Start A Business Programme) 2,211,735.00 2,610,307.00 3,068,017.00 7,890,059.00 
			 Total 5,936,456.00 6,684,241.00 8,152,342.00 20,773,039.00 
		
	
	(b) Invest NI spend on the Entrepreneurship Development Team over the last three years is:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200203 4,000,000 
			 200304 4,600,000 
			 200405 7,000,000 
			 Total 15,600,000 
		
	
	In the same year Invest NI spend associated with the Accelerating Entrepreneurship Strategy/Go For It campaign is:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200203 770,000 
			 200304 2,450,000 
			 200405 1,720,000 
			 Total 4,940,000 
		
	
	However almost every aspect of Invest NI work involves entrepreneurial activity so the real figure for entrepreneurial activity is much higher.
	(c) Invest NI has provided the following fees to Enterprise Northern Ireland for the delivery of the Start A Business programme:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 200203 1,438,658.19 
			 200304 2,027,818.46 
			 200405 2,755,184.79 
			 Total 6,221,661.44

Child Poverty

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what research his Department has carried out into the levels of child poverty in North Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2005 Report was published by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency on 26 May 2005 (a copy is available in the Library). The report details levels of deprivation in 890 small areas (namely super output areas, or SOAs) covering Northern Ireland, with an average SOA population of just under 2,000 people. North Belfast constituency was one of the areas included in this report.
	The following table lists the 40 super output areas that lie in the Belfast, North constituency, along with the Income Deprivation Affecting Children measure (IDAC) and their SOA ranking within Northern Ireland. The SOAs in Belfast, North range from New Lodge_l, the third most deprived SOA in Northern Ireland where 87 per cent. of children experience income deprivation, to Cavehill_2 (rank 839) where 4 per cent. of children experience income deprivation. Measured by the IDAC, 15 of the 40 SOAs in North Belfast are in the top 10per cent. of most deprived SOAs in Northern Ireland.
	The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister is currently producing a ten-year strategy for children and young people. It will be firmly rooted in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and expressed in terms of five high level outcomes for children covering: health; education, learning and enjoyment; economic and environmental well-being; making a positive contribution to society and safety and stability.
	It will be underpinned by the availability of quality research and information, support for parents, families and communities and the involvement of children and young people in decisions affecting their lives. A children's research database is being compiled which will focus on a wide range of issues including poverty levels experienced by children.
	Government are currently consulting on an Anti-Poverty Strategy will also bring a focus to child poverty issues and the Northern Ireland Regional Action Plan, which will be the main vehicle for monitoring and reporting progress on tackling poverty and social exclusion issues across Northern Ireland Departments, will contribute to the UK Government's target of halving child poverty by 2010 and eradicating it by 2020. A copy of the consultation document has been placed in the Library.
	
		Income deprivation affecting childrenNorth Belfast(41)
		
			  Income deprivation affecting children 
			 SOA name Score Rank 
		
		
			 New Lodge_l 0.87 3 
			 New Lodge_3 0.83 6 
			 Crumlin_2_Belfast 0.76 13 
			 New Lodge_2 0.74 15 
			 Water Works_l 0,74 17 
			 Ardoyne_3 0,72 23 
			 Ardoyne_2 0.69 26 
			 Ardoyne_l 0,69 28 
			 Duncairn_l 0,68 30 
			 Crumlin_l_Belfast 0.67 35 
			 Woodvale_3 0.67 37 
			 Woodvale_2 0,64 44 
			 Water Works_3 0.58 65 
			 Ballysillan_l 0.55 84 
			 Duncairn_2 0.55 86 
			 Water Works_2 0.51 95 
			 Woodvale_l 0.51 98 
			 Cliftonville_l 0.50 99 
			 Chichester Park_l 0,50 104 
			 Legoniel_l 0.44 138 
			 Bellevue_2 0.43 146 
			 Castleview_1 0.41 161 
			 Cliftonville_3 0.40 177 
			 Legoniel_2 0.39 183 
			 Bellevue_3 0.37 197 
			 Ballysillan_2 0.35 209 
			 Chichester Park_3 0,35 214 
			 Castleview_3 0.33 242 
			 Ballysillan_3 0,29 287 
			 Fortwilliam_2 0,27 310 
			 Chichester Park_2 0.26 326 
			 Legoniel_3 0.21 432 
			 Bellevue_l 0,20 443 
			 Cliftonville_2 0,19 469 
			 Fortwilliam_3 0.13 607 
			 Fortwilliam_l 0.07 730 
			 Cavehill_l 0,06 764 
			 Castleview_2 0.06 772 
			 Cavehill_3 0.06 781 
			 Cavehill_2 0,04 839 
		
	
	(41)For every super output area in North Belfast parliamentary constituency where a rank of 1 is the most deprived SOA and a rank of 890 is the least deprived SOA in Northern Ireland.
	One of the deprivation measures relates specifically to children; the Income Deprivation Affecting Children (IDAC) measure. This measures the percentage of a SOA's children under 16 who were living in households in receipt of income support or income based job seekers allowance or in families in receipt of working families tax credit/disabled persons tax credit whose equivalised income was below 60 per cent. of the UK median before housing costs.

Counterfeit Medicines

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what strategy is being pursued by the Chief Pharmacist in combating the counterfeiting of (a) medical and (b) veterinary pharmaceutical products in Northern Ireland

Shaun Woodward: The Department's Pharmaceutical Inspectorate, under the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, investigates all reports of manufacture and sale of illegal human and veterinary medicines including counterfeit products.
	The Inspectorate conducts routine and ad-hoc announced and unannounced inspections of manufacturers and wholesale dealers of medicinal products to assess compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Distribution Practice (GDP). This work is undertaken on behalf of, and in liaison with, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). In addition, there is a regular programme of inspection of pharmacies and of registered agricultural merchants and saddlers for compliance with relevant legislation and current good practice.
	The Department seeks to create public awareness through publicising criminal convictions and notable seizures of illegal and counterfeit products, which are considered to pose a significant threat to public health.
	The Inspectorate undertakes regular training in counterfeit medicines detection methods and techniques in co-operation with the MHRA who also provide analytical services in relation to enforcement cases. There are also good collaborative links with international drug regulatory authorities and, more locally, the Inspectorate works closely with the Irish Medicines Board in relation to human medicines and with the Irish Department of Agriculture and Food (DAF) for veterinary medicines in the conduct of joint-investigations, exchange of experience and the sharing of intelligence.

Departmental Budget

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the reasons are for the differences between the figures for Northern Ireland Departmental Administration Costs Limits for 200506 published as Table 4 of his Priorities and Budget document 2005 to 2008 and the figures for departmental net administration costs for the same year published in the Northern Ireland Estimates 200506.

Angela Smith: The following table reconciles the figures within individual Departmental Estimates and the departmental totals within Table 4 of the Priorities and Budget document:
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 Total departmental admin costs per estimates booklet 1,105.3 
			 Less notional charges -72.1 
			 Pension changes -23.4 
			 Admin receipts -99.1 
			 AME costs -7.5 
			 Admin costs per Table 4, Priorities and Budget Document(42) 903.2 
		
	
	(42)Figure for departments onlyexcludes the 6.8 million miscellaneous adjustment
	Explanations for the reconciling items are as follows:
	1.Notional chargesThe estimates include notional charges, which are non-budget items and thus do not appear in the Budget figurework.
	2.Pension changesIn late December 2004, HM Treasury provided details of changes required to Northern Ireland budgets as a result of a change in methodology for determining employers' contribution rates for the Civil Service Pension Scheme and the Teacher's Pension Scheme. These changes were not available at the time of publication of the Priorities and Budget document, but have been included in the estimates document.
	3.Admin receiptsThe departmental administration figures in column 1 of the estimates are on a gross basis, with any associated receipts being included in the Accruing Resources figures in column 5. The administration cost limits in the Priorities and Budget are presented on a net basis after allowing for any associated administration receipts.
	4.AMEThe administrative element of Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) is included in the Estimates, but not included in Table 4 of the Priorities and Budget, which focuses on the Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL).

Education Strike

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to avert strike action by teachers, classroom assistants and other education personnel in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: I met with schools, boards, political parties and the NI Committee of the Irish Congress of Trades Unions to discuss their concerns with regard to education funding in Northern Ireland. As a result of these meetings, strike action has been suspended by the Unions. I announced additional resources of 12.5 million for education of which 3.5 million will go to address pressures in special education, 2.5 million to improve the nutritional standards of school meals and 2.5 million to schools' maintenance. I have also made 4 million available to help the boards develop shared services and re-shape the schools' estate in line with falling pupil numbers. Savings in these areas will release valuable resources for front-line services in schools.

EU Funding (North Belfast)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what EU funds from (a) mainstream funds and (b) special programmes and initiatives have been allocated to North Belfast in each year since 1997.

Angela Smith: The amount of money from mainstream EU programmes and special programmes and initiatives allocated 1 to North Belfast since 1997 was as follows:
	1 The figures relate to projects with an address in the North Belfast parliamentary constituency. Where the project address is insufficient to allocate a postcode, organisation address details are used. If this is the case it is important to note that the impact of any project may extend beyond the geographical location of the project itself. In addition, a project may not be situated within the same geographical area as the applicant organisation.
	
		
		
			  (a) Mainstream EU programmes(43) (b) Special programmes and initiatives(44) 
		
		
			 1997 12,435,782 7,516,653 
			 1998 3,982,376 6,067,460 
			 1999 3,203,191 11,812,038 
			 2000 2,204,060 1,846,856 
			 2001 1,013,339 1,936,814 
			 2002 6,005,602 12,992,496 
			 2003 1,705,678 21,978,660 
			 2004 9,005,801 11,888,575 
			 2005  405,624 
		
	
	(43)The EU programmes included in this category are the 199499 single programme document and the 200006 programme for building sustainable prosperity.
	(44)The EU programmes included in this category are Peace I 199599, Peace II 200006 and the Community Initiatives Urban I, SMEs, Employment and Adapt for the period 199499 and Urban II, Equal and Interreg IIIA for the funding period 200006.
	A list of projects and grants awarded under the current round of EU funding 200006 extracted from the EU structural funds database has been placed in the Library.

EU Peace Funds

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure that communities from a Protestant and Unionist background receive a fair share of EU Peace funds.

Angela Smith: No shares of EU PEACE funds are set aside for either community. Recent research shows that both communities are deriving substantial benefit with Protestant share estimated at 48.6 per cent. and Catholic share estimated at 51.4 per cent. This research has also shown that Protestants are less likely to apply and every effort will be made to encourage applications from that community. Actions will include:
	allocation of an additional 1 million per annum to the Weak Community Infrastructure measure in the PEACE II extension period;
	Capacity Building Support for Protestant/Unionist Community Umbrella Groups;
	programme publicity and information events throughout Northern Ireland;
	specific reference through advertising and publicity events encouraging applications from the Protestant/Unionist community; and
	all Implementing Bodies will be required to take action to try to address any instances where under representation of any group is identified.

Fuel Poverty

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of deaths attributable to fuel poverty in 200405; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: There is no estimate available for the number of deaths attributable to fuel poverty. It is estimated that the average number of deaths, due to cardiovascular and respiratory causes, where low climatic temperature was a factor was approximately 2,050 per annum in the period 19802001. These deaths occurred in all seasons of the year and to people of all ages. They are not necessarily attributable to low home temperatures nor can they be attributed directly to fuel poverty. There has been a general decline in death from cardiovascular and respiratory causes, and it is estimated that a comparable figure for 200304 would be approximately 1,020.

Honours

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials currently in the Department received honours in the recent Queen's Birthday Honours List; and at what rank of honour.

Peter Hain: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, on 22 June 2005, Official Report, column 1059W.

House Fire Fatalities

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have died in house fires in Northern Ireland (a) in each month so far in 2005 and (b) in the last three years for which figures are available.

Shaun Woodward: Information provided by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service shows that in 2005 to date there have been three deaths in accidental dwellings fires in January and 1 in May. In the calendar years 2002, 2003 and 2004, total accidental dwelling fire fatalities were 12, 9 and 10, respectively.

Nitrates Directive (Slurry)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial assistance his Department will provide to farmers in Northern Ireland to build new slurry tanks following implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive.

Angela Smith: To assist farmers to comply with the Action Programme to implement the EU Nitrates Directive the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is providing capital grant support through the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme. Funding of 45 million is available to assist with investment in new and improved slurry and manure storage facilities.

Olympic Games

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the benefits to Northern Ireland so far of the 2012 Olympic bid.

David Hanson: In the event of London 2012 winning the Olympic bid, it is expected that Northern Ireland could benefit through volunteering, hosting of pre-games training camps, increase in tourism, increased awareness of the benefits of participating in sport, economic and business procurement opportunities. It is also anticipated that competitors from Northern Ireland will compete in the games, which will bring added value in support to local elite athletes.
	In Northern Ireland, a regional co-ordinating group has been established to raise awareness of the bid and to consider how to maximise benefits arising from a successful bid throughout the Province.

Olympic Games

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the benefits to Northern Ireland of the London bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

David Hanson: There is regular liaison with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in support of the London bid and the benefits for Northern Ireland. A regional co-ordinating group has been established in Northern Ireland to raise awareness of the bid and to consider how to maximise benefits arising from a successful bid.
	Northern Ireland could anticipate benefits through volunteering, hosting of pre-games preparation camps, increase in tourism, increased awareness of the benefits of participating in sport, economic and business procurement opportunities.

Out of School Provision

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether funding for the expansion of out-of-school provision in Northern Ireland was included in the recent announcement by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills.

Angela Smith: No, the announcement related to England.
	My Department is, however, pursuing a number of developments, such as Education Action Zones, and provision within the Belfast Board area that will be supported through the Integrated Development Fund. These envisage schools as the learning hubs of their communities, supporting and encouraging provision throughout the extended school day; breakfast clubs, homework clubs, sports and a range of other activities are already offered in many schools before and after school hours.
	Under the Peace II Programme extension 200406 out of school childcare provision and other activities can continue to be supported under Measure 1.5, Positive Action for Women.

Pensioners

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pensioners there are in the Strangford constituency.

David Hanson: In answering this question I have assumed the word pensioners relates to those people who are in receipt of retirement pension.
	The number of people as of March 2005 in receipt of Retirement Pension in the Strangford constituency was 16,268.

Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff are engaged within the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in combating the counterfeiting of pharmaceutical products; and what plans he has to increase these numbers.

Shaun Woodward: There are currently four full-time members of staff which form the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate within the Pharmaceutical Branch, engaged in inspection and enforcement across the whole range of medicines (human and veterinary) and related pharmaceutical legislation, including action against those engaged in dealings in counterfeit products. One of these officers is exclusively dedicated to investigative work.
	There will shortly be a meeting between the Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on the future operational arrangements following the introduction of new Veterinary Medicines Regulations which are due to come into force on 30 October 2005. The implications of this for staffing levels will be considered following the results of those discussions.

School Transport

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the criteria used to determine children's eligibility for free school transport.

Angela Smith: Free transport provision is available to pupils who have been unable to gain a place in suitable schools within specific distances of their home i.e. two miles for primary and three miles for secondary age pupils. While there are no plans to change this criterion the Department of Education is currently undertaking a review of the current arrangements.

Sinn Fein (Remuneration)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been paid in (a) salaries and (b) office allowances to Sinn Fein Assembly members since 29 April 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The total amount paid to Sinn Fein Assembly Members in respect of salaries from 29 April 2004 to 31 May 2005 was 823,239. For the same period, Sinn Fein Assembly members received Office Allowance Costs of 1,211,141.

Sinn Fein (Remuneration)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the first direction given under section 51B(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 against Sinn Fein removing its entitlement to payments under the Financial Assistance for Political Parties Scheme for the 12 months from 29 April 2004.

Peter Hain: The first Direction removed Sinn Fein's entitlement to financial assistance for 12 months from 29 April 2004. The assistance Sinn Fein might otherwise have received is approximately 120,000.

Sinn Fein (Remuneration)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons he declined to exercise his powers under section 47 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to make a determination in relation to the salaries of Sinn Fein Assembly members following the 1st Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission in April 2004.

Peter Hain: The Direction made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Torfaen in April 2004 concerned party funding. In his statement to the House of Commons on 20 April 2004 he said that having considered the Independent Monitoring Commission's Report, he was persuaded that it would be right to remove for a period the entitlement to the block financial assistance paid to Assembly parties.
	He said that the powers he had taken to enable him to make a Direction in the absence of a sitting Assembly would also permit him to act to reduce Members' salaries if he saw fit to do so in the light of a future IMC report. My right hon. Friend had therefore concluded that action against party funding was the appropriate response to the report.

Smoke Alarms

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of homes in Northern Ireland which are not fitted with a working smoke alarm; and what steps are being taken to increase the numbers of homes with working smoke alarms.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has based its estimates of working smoke alarms on the findings of the June 2004 Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey (NIOS). This found that 96 per cent. of respondents had a smoke alarm in their home. Of these, 72 per cent. reported checking their alarms as least weekly or monthly. Taking into account the likelihood of those who tested their alarms less frequently, or never tested, having working alarms, NIFRS estimates that 19 per cent. of homes may not have a reliable, working smoke alarm.
	NIFRS has undertaken a number of initiatives to increase public awareness of the need to maintain smoke alarms. These have included the Touch for Life television advert, shown every Monday throughout the year, which promotes smoke detector maintenance. Billboard and Adshel posters accompanied the television and radio campaign. NIFRS has also circulated a multi-lingual fire safety leaflet targeting minority ethnic groups. NIFRS has also conducted 3,527 community development initiatives in the past year, including fire safety talks in schools, highlighting the importance of smoke alarm maintenance, and 1,421 home safety visits giving advice on fire safety arrangements, as well as the installation and maintenance of smoke alarms.

Smoke Alarms

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have (a) died and (b) suffered injury as a result of house fires where there was a non-working smoke alarm in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: The following table shows the numbers of deaths in the last five years in house fires where no working smoke alarm was fitted:
	
		
			  Total fatalities in house fires Fatalities where no working smoke alarm fitted 
		
		
			 2000 14 11 
			 2001 14 8 
			 2002 12 5 
			 2003 9 1 
			 2004 10 5 
		
	
	Figures for the numbers of serious injuries are not readily available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman when these are to hand.

Strangford Lough Fishing Ban

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been awarded compensation by his Department since the ban on fishing with mobile gear in Strangford Lough came into force; and what has been the total cost of this compensation.

Angela Smith: No compensation has yet been awarded.

Strangford Lough Fishing Ban

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what criteria were used by his Department when awarding compensation following the ban on fishing with mobile gear in Strangford Lough.

Angela Smith: No compensation has yet been awarded and therefore no assessment criteria have been applied.

Tennis

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of the recently-announced lottery funding for sport in Northern Ireland has been earmarked specifically to develop tennis.

David Hanson: The recent announcement of 6.4 million lottery funding was for projects under the Big Lottery Fund's PE and Sport programme. The PE and Sport programme does not make awards to specific sports, as it is primarily for capital investment. However five of the 14 projects that have recently received awards totalling 4.5 million have indicated in their sports development plan that they will offer sports development opportunities in tennis.

Trading Standards

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Trading Standards offences were recorded in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and how many people were prosecuted as a result.

Angela Smith: The following table gives the numbers of recorded Trading Standards offences and prosecutions from 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2005.
	
		
			 Year (1 April-31 March) Number of Trading Standards offences recorded(45) Number of Trading Standards prosecutions 
		
		
			 200001 812 14 
			 200102 1265 20 
			 200203 1279 14 
			 200304 1493 14 
			 200405 308 15 
		
	
	(45)Recorded offences include many instances of non-compliance where remedial action was taken on the spot by the trader.

Trading Standards

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Trading Standards officers were employed in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years, broken down by rank.

Angela Smith: The following table gives details of the staffing of Trading Standards Officers in the last five years.
	
		Trading Standards Officers by rank in past five years
		
			 Grades 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Chief Inspector of Weights and Measures 1 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Deputy Chief Trading Standards Officer 1 2 2 2 2 2 
			 Senior Inspector 1 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Area Inspector 7 7 7 7 7 7 
			 Trading Standards Inspector 12 12 12 11 10 10 
			 Enforcement Officer 10 10 11 11 12 14 
			 Trainee Inspector 0 0 6 6 6 6 
			 Total 32 33 40 39 38 40

Velcade

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to make Velcade available on the NHS in Northern Ireland; and for what reasons it has not been available to date.

Shaun Woodward: Velcade was licensed for use in all areas in the UK in April 2004. Clinicians are in a position to prescribe Velcade within its licensed indications and in the context of local prescribing budgets.
	Additional funding of 5 million has been allocated in 200506 for specialist hospital drugs. It is for the Health and Social Services Boards, as commissioners of services, to prioritise how funding is used, taking into account the competing demands and pressures in their areas and the strategic objectives and priorities of my Department.
	The Department will continue to seek to improve access to specialist medicines, which offer the potential for significant improvement in patient care.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Civil Legal Aid Budget

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what allocations she has made to the civil legal aid budget for each of the next five years.

Bridget Prentice: There is no set budget for civil legal aid for the next five years. Civil legal aid forms part of the overall total funding available for all legal aid (excluding asylum which is part of the Single Asylum Fund). The resource budget for legal aid is set for three years at each Spending Review and these stand at 1,825 million, 1,872 million and 1,920 million for 200506 to 200708 respectively.
	Prior to the commencement of each financial year the Lord Chancellor is required to direct how much may be paid into the Community Legal Service Fund (which funds civil legal aid). As priorities change throughout the course of the year this amount may be changed by way of an amending direction.

Coroners (Bridgend/Teesside)

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will instruct the Bridgend coroner, Mr. Walters, to provide doctors at the Oaktree Surgery in Bridgend with copies of post mortems carried out on their patients.

Harriet Harman: Coroners have been encouraged to provide doctors with copies of post mortem reports in relation to their patients but the decision is a matter for the coroner alone and not one where the Secretary of State can direct.

Coroners (Bridgend/Teesside)

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the contents are of the monthly reports which the Lord Chancellor has been receiving from the coroner of Teesside.

Harriet Harman: The monthly information reports received by the Lord Chancellor from the coroner for Teesside since June 2004 contain the number of coroner cases (including inquests) in the region and specifically the numbers of cases received, disposed of and outstanding on a monthly basis.

Coroners (Bridgend/Teesside)

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs on what basis the Lord Chancellor will decide whether he requires the Teesside coroner to continue to send him monthly reports.

Harriet Harman: The Lord Chancellor will decide whether he requires the coroner for Teesside to continue to send him monthly reports based upon the performance of the coroner's office for Teesside during the review period.

Coroners (Bridgend/Teesside)

Vera Baird: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if the Lord Chancellor will require the Teesside coroner to undergo extra training to ensure that there is no recurrence of delays.

Harriet Harman: The Lord Chancellor has not required the coroner to undergo extra training as part of the review period. The Lord Chancellor will consider what further action, if any, is required after the end of June 2005.

Immigration and Asylum

Graham Stringer: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what studies her Department has undertaken into the effect of the new legal aid control on the immigration and asylum system.

Bridget Prentice: The reforms introduced in April 2004 addressed serious concerns about increasing costs and poor quality work. They were designed to target resources on cases with merit and to drive up the quality of publicly funded legal services in the field of asylum and immigration. Now that the reforms have been in place for a year, there is sufficient information available to commence an analysis of their impact and DCA officials will be working with the Legal Services Commission (LSC), Home Office and the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal on this. The operation of the new cost controls was subject to a review involving key stakeholders from the legal professions in July 2004.
	In most areas of the country there are an adequate number of suppliers and the LSC acts to ensure that any local gaps in supply are addressed as quickly as possible. The LSC is undertaking a needs analysis exercise to further match supply to demand. Since the changes were introduced, the number of firms and organisations undertaking this work has fallen, but during 200405 the net reduction was less than 10 per cent. This is in the context of a significant fall in asylum numbers from a peak of 84,000 to 32,000 in 200405.

Jury Service (Northern Ireland)

Lady Hermon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people were called to jury service in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and what the average length of time served as a juror was in Northern Ireland in each of these years.

Bridget Prentice: The number of people called to jury service in Northern Ireland is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 200304 17,405 
			 200405 18,345 
		
	
	Statistics for 200203 and information on the average length of time served as a juror are recorded manually and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Law Society

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether she has been consulted about the Law Society's Training Framework Review.

Bridget Prentice: The Law Society is currently consulting on proposed changes to the pre-qualification training framework for solicitors. Any recommendations the Law Society makes as a result of that consultation will then be considered by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, whose approval would be needed, in accordance with Schedule 4 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

Magistrates

Graham Allen: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make it her policy to collect data on magistrates residency by constituency in order to identify areas where extra recruitment is required.

Harriet Harman: There are no plans to collect data on magistrates residency by constituency. The Lord Chancellor's and Secretary of State's Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace are responsible for the recruitment of magistrates. There are 101 Advisory Committees covering England and Wales. Data on the number of magistrates are recorded for each bench and Advisory Committees are responsible for recruiting sufficient magistrates for each bench. The Magistrates' National Recruitment Strategy Implementation Paper published on 11 March 2005 sets the action for increasing recruitment.

Solicitors (Newly Qualified/Trainee)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average salary has been of a one-year qualified solicitor (a) conducting civil legal aid work and (b) in non-publicly funded firms, in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region;

Bridget Prentice: The specific information requested is not collated or held centrally by this Department and therefore an answer cannot be given. The issue of salaries paid to solicitors is a matter for solicitors' partnerships/practices and the individual solicitors concerned.

Solicitors (Newly Qualified/Trainee)

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average salary has been of a trainee solicitor (a) conducting civil legal aid work and (b) in non-publicly funded firms, in each of the last 10 years broken down by region.

Bridget Prentice: The specific information requested is not collated or held centrally by this Department and therefore an answer cannot be given. The issue of salaries paid to solicitors is a matter for solicitors' partnerships/practices and the individual solicitors concerned.

Tolerance Work Contracts

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps she has taken to review legal aid advice under contracts for tolerance work.

Bridget Prentice: The Legal Services Commission plan to review tolerance work contracts later in the year as part of a major consultation on their supplier management strategy.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Consultants

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to issue guidance on effective commissioning for those in the public and voluntary sectors who are commissioning work from external consultants.

Jack Straw: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has comprehensive guidance on commissioning consultants contained within its procurement guidelines. This guidance is accessible to all staff via the FCO's own internal intranet.

European Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities Agency

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the role is of the European Armaments, Research and Military Capabilities Agency; when it was established; how it is financed; what the UK contribution was in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I have been asked to reply.
	The European Defence Agency was formally established under that title on 12 July 2004 by a unanimous decision by Heads of State and Government. It was established under the Council Joint Action 2004/551/CFSP according to the provisions of the treaty on European Union.
	The Agency's mission is to support member states in their effort to improve the European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the ESDP as it stands and develops in the future. To fulfil this role, the Agency has been assigned four functions: the development of defence capabilities in the field of crisis management; the promotion and enhancement of European armaments co-operation; working to strengthen the defence technological and industrial base and for the creation of an internationally competitive European defence equipment market; and the enhancement of the effectiveness of European defence research and technology.
	The Agency is financed by contributions from participating member states, whose share is based on assessments of gross national income. The UK contributed 17.28 percent. (equating to 308,775.51) of the budget for 2004, which covered the period from its formal establishment in July to the end of that year. For the calendar year 2005, the UK contribution is 18.07 percent., equating to 3,596,803. The 2005 budget includes non-recurring costs associated with the initial set-up of the Agency.
	The Government are a strong supporter of the European Defence Agency. The Agency will drive forward work on improving European defence capabilities by encouraging and supporting the efforts of individual EU member states. By developing proposals to rationalise and harmonise capability requirements, and linking those directly to industrial and research efforts, the Agency will significantly strengthen both the European security and defence policy and Europe's contribution to NATO.

India

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Government of India regarding Sikh separatism in the Punjab.

Kim Howells: The Government have not raised the issue of Sikh separatism in the Punjab with the Government of India. We continue regularly to raise the issue of religious minorities, at official level, with the Indian authorities.

Iran

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Baha'- community in Iran.

Kim Howells: The Baha'-s are the largest non-Muslim religious group in Iran yet, unlike Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians, are not recognised in Iran's constitution. Members of the Baha'- community have suffered intimidation and harassment, had property confiscated and been denied access to education and employment, apparently on account of their faith. A number of Baha'- sites have been demolished, organisers of Baha'- community activities have reportedly been harassed and the Baha'- faith has been denigrated in the state-owned media. Many of these acts appear to have been carried out by, or with the support or acquiescence of, the Iranian authorities. We have raised our concerns about the situation of the Baha'-s in Iran with the Iranian authorities on many occasions, and will continue to do so, bilaterally and with our European Union partners.

Iran

Robert Marshall-Andrews: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the EU3 has made on (a) nuclear co-operation, (b) technological and economic co-operation and (c) security issues during negotiations with the Iranian Government.

Kim Howells: In an agreement reached with Iran in Paris in November 2004, the UK, France and Germany (the E3), supported by the EU High Representative, proposed a framework for negotiating long-term arrangements for Iran's nuclear programme and co-operation in other areas. Iran agreed to suspend fully all uranium enrichment related and reprocessing activities while the discussions continue; the agreement makes clear that this is essential to the continuation of the process. The discussions have been taken forward by a Steering Committee and three Working Groups covering nuclear issues, political/security issues, and technology/co-operation. Both sides have put forward ideas. Following a ministerial meeting in Geneva on 25 May, the E3 have now agreed to present further ideas in late July or early August. These are still under internal discussion.

Iraq/Afghanistan (Human Rights)

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the 2005 Annual Human Rights report will (a) set out the steps which the UK have taken to ensure that human rights are respected by military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan and (b) include a discussion of human rights violations alleged to have been committed by the UK.

Ian Pearson: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Report on Human Rights 2005 is currently being edited and is due for publication as a Command Paper next month. It contains sections on Iraq and Afghanistan, including human rights, security forces and allegations of abuse.

Kashmir

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards an improvement in the human rights situation in Kashmir.

Kim Howells: We remain concerned by continued credible reports of human rights abuses in Kashmir, including acts reportedly perpetrated by members of the Indian security forces. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised this with the Indian Minister of Home Affairs during his visit to India in February 2005. The UK condemns all acts of violence that bring suffering to the people of Kashmir, and believes that only through dialogue between India and Pakistan will a durable solution to the Kashmir issue be reached. We welcome the Indian Chief of Army Staffs public commitment to reach out to the Kashmiri People, and the UK will continue to encourage the Indian Government to implement such pledges to improve the human rights situation in Kashmir.

Kashmir

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in reducing external support for militants in Kashmir.

Kim Howells: It is important that Pakistan does all it can to fulfil President Musharraf's commitment, made at the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) Summit in Islamabad in January 2004, not to permit any Pakistani territory to be used to support terrorism. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised the need for Pakistan to fulfil this commitment during his visit to Islamabad in February 2005, and the UK continues to make this point clearly to senior Pakistani interlocutors.

Middle East

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards Israel's plans to build a Gaza sea barrier.

Kim Howells: We are seeking clarification from the Government of Israel on its reported plans to build a sea barrier. We fully support Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism, which the UK condemns absolutely. But we would expect the construction of any such sea barrier to comply with international law.

Middle East

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether Israel is fulfilling human rights commitments made to the EU.

Kim Howells: Along with our EU partners, we have followed a policy of constructive engagement with Israel on humanitarian and human rights issues. We have raised our concerns on human rights violations both bilaterally and through the institutions established by the EU/Israel Association Agreement. This happened most recently at the EU/Israel Association Committee on 14 April in Jerusalem. Our primary concerns are the impact on human rights of barrier construction, restrictions imposed on the freedom of movement and settlement expansion. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised these issues with the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Territories on 78 June.

Middle East

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Israeli Government on the timetable for Israeli withdrawals from Gaza.

Kim Howells: We have had ongoing discussions with the Israeli Government on the timetable for Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and part of the West Bank. Most recently my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary discussed this with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon, Vice Prime Minister Olmert and Foreign Minister Shalom during his visit to the region on 78 June.

Saddam Hussein

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effects the (a) possibility of Saddam Hussein receiving a capital sentence and (b) implications of the European Convention on Human Rights have had on the provision of information by the UK Government into the investigations into Saddam Hussein's alleged crimes.

Kim Howells: The British Government have not provided any information into the investigations into Saddam Hussein's alleged crimes.
	Our opposition to the death penalty is well known.

Saddam Hussein

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the oral answer of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 650 on Saddam Hussein, whether the Government plans (a) to make all relevant evidence available to and (b) co-operate in all ways with the investigation into and the trial of Saddam Hussein.

Kim Howells: The Government supports the efforts of the Iraqi Special Tribunal (IST) to bring members of the former regime to justice and has provided training for the judiciary. Should the Government be approached by the IST with a request for cooperation in support of investigations or trials, we would of course give that request full consideration. Thus far, we have received no such request.

Saudi Arabia

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of Saudi Arabia regarding democratic reform.

Kim Howells: We support the emerging momentum for change and modernisation that is developing in Saudi Arabia. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary jointly hosted with HRH Prince Saud, the Saudi Foreign Minister, a conference in London on 23 February to consider Saudi reform issues. The Foreign Secretary had a further meeting with HRH Prince Saud on 22 June at which they again discussed reform. We have established, with Saudi Arabia, a follow-up process to the conference to develop practical steps we can take together to support Saudi Arabia's reform efforts.

Student Visas

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues about the effect of increases in visa charges on numbers of applications from overseas students to universities in the United Kingdom.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was involved in correspondence discussions on the matter of the increase in visa fees for overseas students with my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. In addition, he has discussed this issue with the previous and current Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (respectively Mr. Mullin and Lord Triesman of Tottenham).

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Justice and Equality Movement of Darfur (JEM); and whether the JEM has recently visited the UK.

Ian Pearson: Through the Sudan Unit in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and our Embassy in Khartoum, we are in regular contact with the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM). The then UK Special Representative met Dr Khalil, the leader of the JEM in London on 19 April. During this meeting we urged them to abide by their commitments under the Abuja protocols, to prevent attacks and to negotiate a political settlement.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development (Hilary Benn) met representatives of the JEM during his visit to Darfur on 13 June. He pressed them to respect their commitment to the ceasefire, noting that responsibility for the majority of ceasefire violations in recent weeks have been laid at the rebels' door. He urged them to negotiate constructively in Abuja.
	To this end we welcome the resumption of peace talks in Abuja. A UK observer at the talks is in contact with the JEM on a daily basis. We continue to press them to negotiate in good faith and find a solution to the conflict in Darfur.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Business Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average business rate in London has been in each year since 1997.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 June 2005, Official Report, column 542W.

Council Tax

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to limit regional variations in council tax.

Phil Woolas: Council tax levels are primarily for local authorities to determine, although the Government have made it clear that they will not hesitate to use their capping powers to protect council tax payers from excessive increases.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the average (a) Band D and (b) per dwelling council tax bill has been in (i) London and (ii) each London borough in each year since 199798.

Phil Woolas: Details of the average (a) Band D and (b) per dwelling council tax bill in (i) London and (ii)each London borough in each year since 199899 are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and can be found under the heading Information For TaxpayersCouncil Taxes at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ct.htm.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's plan for (a) council tax on and (b) planning permission for second homes.

Phil Woolas: The information is as follows.
	(a) From the financial year 200405, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has given local billing authorities the discretion to set the council tax discount offered on second homes at any point between 10 per cent. and 50 per cent. No further changes are planned.
	(b) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Tim Farron) on 13 June 2005, Official Report, column 127W.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated gross revenue generated in England by reducing the council tax discount on (a) second homes and (b) empty homes was in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: It is estimated that the additional amounts of council tax generated in 200405 as a result of billing authorities reducing council tax discounts for properties in their area were 88 million for second homes and 49 million for long-term empty homes.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the definition is of a second home for the purposes of setting council tax bills.

Phil Woolas: For the purpose of setting council tax bills, a second home is a chargeable furnished dwelling which is no one's sole or main residence.

E-projects (Funding)

Robert Key: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the projects for e-enabling parish councils and local community groups that his Department is funding; what the (a) central funding and (b) partnership contribution is for each project; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Local e-Government programme does not directly support the e-enablement of parish councils and local community groups. However, through a number of projects we have funded, local authorities have been given the tools to support their local groups. Local authorities are encouraged to do so through the Local e-Gov Priority Outcomes guidance as part of their community leadership role.
	The five projects we funded are:
	
		
			  Name of project Area of interest ODPM stream of funding () Partnership contribution () 
		
		
			 200506 Local Directgovworkstream 2 Neighbourhoods and parish councils 350,000 n/a 
			 200506 East of England Regional Partnership E-enabling Parish Councils 300,000 n/a 
			 200405 ENCOREworkstream 4 E-Community Services 531,200 n/a 
			 200405 The Local Link Online services to build web pages for first tier councils 170,000 170,000 
			 200405 Community Heritage Stores Community Heritage Store 68,000 68,000

EU Funding (West Midlands)

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much EU funding has been secured for projects in the west midlands since 1997, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority.

Yvette Cooper: The west midlands region has secured over 1.2 billion of funding from the European Union since 1997, via a package of structural funds programmes, namely
	
		
		
			 Programme ERDF ESF EAGGF Total 
		
		
			 Objective 2 (199799) 226. 10 million 77.49 million  303.59 million 
			 Urban (199799) 1.95 million 0.88 million  2.83 million 
			 Leader II (199799) 1.0 million 0.25 million 0.25 million 1.50 million 
			 Objective 2 (200006) 515 26 million 100.00 million  615.26 million 
			 Objective 3 (200006)  318.09 million  318.09 million 
			 Leader+ (200006)   1.13 million 1.13 million 
			 Grand total1.2424 billion 
		
	
	These sums are in addition to the 335 million of EU funding allocated to the region under the earlier programmes (199495), part of which was still available to spend up to 2001.
	European funding is allocated on a national/regional basis for projects operating in eligible programme areas which are agreed with the Commission at the start of the programming period. EU funds are not allocated on a sub-regional basis in the west midlands region, so the above allocations cannot be broken down to a parliamentary constituency or local authority level.

EU Funding (West Midlands)

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much (a) objective 2, (b) objective 3 and (c) other EU funding has been secured in the West Midlands in 200506, broken down by (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) local authority area.

Yvette Cooper: European Structural Funds programmes operate on the basis of calendar years. Between 1 January and 31 December 2005, the West Midlands has been allocated a total of 110.4 million in European funding, broken down as follows:
	
		 million
		
			 Programme ERDF ESF EAGGF Total 
		
		
			 Objective 2 60.92 14.50  75. 42 
			 Objective 3  34.70  34.70 
			 Leader+   0.28 0.28 
			 Grand total110.40 
		
	
	EU funds are not allocated on a sub-regional basis in the West Midlands, so the above allocations cannot be broken down to a parliamentary constituency or local authority area.

Home Ownership

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his written statement of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 17WS, on home ownership, how many people in each region he expects to be eligible for the shared home ownership schemes.

Yvette Cooper: It is not possible to estimate at the moment how many people in each region will be eligible for our new HomeBuy shared equity proposals as set out in our consultation document HomeBuyExpanding the Opportunity to Own.
	We want to ensure that our support is directed at people most in need of assistance. Our consultation document proposes that social tenants and those on housing registers, key workers and other first time buyers identified by Regional Housing Boards should be eligible for assistance. Final eligibility criteria will therefore be dependent on the recommendations of Regional Housing Boards.
	The consultation closes on 24 June and we intend to put the new arrangements in place by April 2006.

Home Ownership

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the written statement of 25 May 2005, Official Report, column 17WS, on home ownership, how many of the shared home ownership schemes he expects to be in place by April 2009; and how many people he expects to have participated in them.

Yvette Cooper: Sustainable Communities: Homes for All, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House, indicated that over 80,000 households will be helped into home-ownership through low cost home ownership schemes by 2010. This total could increase to as many as 110,000 through a deal being negotiated with the Council of Mortgage Lenders that would involve the Government funding equity loans jointly with private lenders.
	However, it is too early to say how many people will have participated in shared ownership schemes between now and April 2009. Decisions on the overall level of funding for affordable housing in each region in 200607 and 200708 will be taken over the summer in the light of advice from the Regional Housing Boards. The allocation of these funds across the regions, which will be announced early next year, will reflect advice from the boards and the quantity and value for money of bids to the Housing Corporation. The delivery of outputs from 200809 will be dependent upon the outcome of the next Spending Review in 2006.

House Prices

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 878W, on house prices, what the average house price for England was in (a) 1993 and (b) 2004.

Yvette Cooper: Mix-adjusted house prices for the UK, constituent countries and the Government Office regions from 1993 are published as Live Table 507 on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at:
	http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_604092.xls

House Sales (Islamic Financing)

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1) how many homes have been sold in each year since 1997 under (a) shared ownership and (b) right-to-buy schemes using the principles of Islamic financing;
	(2)  what provision has been made by his Department to enable the purchase of homes under (a) shared ownership and (b) right-to-buy schemes that are compliant with Islamic financing principles.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) is exploring options with the Housing Corporation and other regulators to ascertain whether it is possible for shared equity products to comply with Islamic law. The issues are complex and we want a solution which protects both the rights of individuals and provides security for Government funds.
	In March 2005, the ODPM published a consultation paper, Non-standard mortgages for purchasing social dwellings, on its proposal to issue a General Consent under section 32 of the Housing Act 1985 to facilitate the use of finance that complies with Sharia principles by secure tenants of local authorities who wish to buy their homes. The paper is available on the ODPM website, at: http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/odpm_housing/documents/page/odpm_house_035962.hcsp
	The closing date for responses was 20 June 2005. We will consider the responses received before taking any action.

Housing Initiatives

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the proportion of (a) shared owners and (b) Homebuy purchasers who expect to own their own home outright eventually.

Yvette Cooper: On 6 June the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published a supporting annex to our consultation document HomeBuyexpanding the opportunity to own (April 2005). This summarised key research into our existing shared ownership and Homebuy schemes. Research included the Evaluation of the Low Cost Home Ownership Programme (ODPM 2002) which found that over 80 per cent. of shared owners and 53 per cent. of Homebuy purchasers expected to own their current home outright eventually.

Housing Initiatives

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the potential costs to (a) public funds and (b) mortgage lenders of properties purchased under the Homebuy Joint Shared Equity Loan with Mortgage Lenders scheme being sold at below the original purchase price.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently consulting on the details of our proposals for a range of new HomeBuy products, as set out in the consultation document HomeBuyExpanding the Opportunity to Own (a copy of which is available from the Library of the House). This includes proposals for the joint public/private funding of equity loans.
	Under these proposals a proportion of the equity loan assistance currently offered by the Government under the HomeBuy scheme will be replaced with funding from a private mortgage lender. For example, if a buyer purchases 75 per cent. of a home through their own means the Government will fund 12.5 per cent. and the private lender the remaining 12.5 per cent.
	Subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise the Open Market HomeBuy scheme will be modified in this way. This will enable the Government's funding allocated to the scheme to go further and help more people into home ownership. It is not our intention that there will be any overall increase in costs to public funds as a result of these proposals.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has made no assessment of the potential costs to lenders of operating this scheme; that is a primarily a matter for lenders themselves.

Key Workers

Sarah Teather: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what definition of key worker his Department uses.

Yvette Cooper: For the purposes of the Key Worker Living (KWL) programme, a key worker is someone employed by the public sector in health, education or community safety delivering an essential public service in a role where there are serious recruitment and retention problems. Within this broad definition sponsor Government Departments and Police and Fire Authorities specify the groups at which help should be targeted based on recruitment and retention issues in critical frontline services. The sector specific eligibility criteria can be found in Annex B of the KWL Capital Funding Guide on the Housing Corporation's website at http://www.housingcorp.gov.uk/resources/cfg.htm

Local Authorities (Performance)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what extra powers the Government will offer local authorities rated (a) excellent and (b) good in the revised Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime.

Phil Woolas: Under the current Comprehensive Performance Assessment regime excellent and good authorities benefit from a number of additional freedoms, including new powers to trade and streamlined requirements for best value performance plans. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently consulting on provisions allowing good and excellent authorities to spend income from fixed penalty notices from dog fouling and litter on any service. Excellent authorities benefit from further freedoms from statutory plan requirements, significant reductions in levels of inspection and reduced ring fencing. These freedoms will remain under the revised CPA system and we will be considering what further freedoms can be provided before the first scores under the revised system are published at the end of the year.

Local Authority Budgets

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for capping local authority budgets.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is currently considering the challenges made by the nine authorities which were designated on 23 March.
	In year capping is subject to a capping Order being approved by the House of Commons. If any such Order is approved, it is intended that it should come into effect before the summer recess.

Mobile Phone Masts

Michael Mates: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister for what reasons the Government did not proceed with its undertaking to make all telephones masts the subject of normal planning procedures.

Yvette Cooper: In 2000 the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (Stewart Group) recommended that telecommunication development should be subject to the normal planning process. The Group made this recommendation in order to improve local consultation. The arrangements we put in place following the Group's report provide for the same consultation on mobile phone masts up to 15 m in height as is required by full planning permission.

Mobile Phone Masts

Michael Mates: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what percentage of planning appeals for mobile phone masts were decided (a) for and (b) against the appellant in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister do not hold information about mobile phone masts specifically, and it could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Mobile Phone Masts

Michael Mates: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when research into mobile phone use and the necessity for masts in the future, announced on 4 April, is expected to be completed.

Yvette Cooper: The 4 April announcement stated the Government's intention to commission further research to identify the future direction of mobile phone technology and the future need for mast developments. We will announce further details of the research in due course.

Property Values

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what (a) year and (b) month's house prices were used to assess property values in the original valuation of properties for council tax in England.

Phil Woolas: Domestic properties were assessed for council tax based on the value that would have been realised if they were sold on 1 April 1991.

Property Values

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable was for the original valuation of residential properties for council tax in England.

Phil Woolas: Following the Local Government and Finance Act 1991 the Valuation Office had to deliver draft valuation lists to local (charging) authorities by 1 December 1992 and compiled lists by 1 April 1993.

Property Values

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the methodology used for the original valuation of properties for council tax in England.

Phil Woolas: Information on the methodology used in valuing domestic properties for council tax purposes has been placed in the Library of the House. This is contained in the National Audit report, published in March 1994, entitled Council Tax Valuations in England and Wales.
	Additional information can be obtained from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) website at www.voa.gov.uk and selecting council tax at the top of the home page and from the next page How your property is valued.

Public Conveniences

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 21 June 2005, Official Report, column 879W, on public conveniences, in what year public conveniences first became liable for business rates; and what the average rate on a public convenience was in the last year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: Public conveniences have been liable for business rates at least as far back as 1950. This is when the responsibility for compiling and maintaining valuation lists transferred to valuation officers, at that time officials of the Inland Revenue. Information on the average rate bills for public conveniences is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Rates (Collection)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the collection rate for (a) business rates and (b) council tax has been in each local authority in each year since 199697.

Phil Woolas: Details of the collection rate for (a) non-domestic rates and (b) council tax in each local authority in each year since 199798 are published on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website and can be found under the heading Information For TaxpayersCouncil Tax Collection Rates at: http://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/ct.htm

Second Home Discount

David Drew: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much revenue was accrued through the change in the second home discount in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority; and how much of that money was ringfenced for housing purposes.

Phil Woolas: A table giving estimates of the amounts of additional council tax generated for 200405 for each billing authority area as a result of reductions in the discount for second homes has been placed in the Library of the House.
	None of the additional money generated was ring-fenced for housing purposes. Local authorities are free to use the additional revenue generated for whatever purposes they feel most appropriate. Some may use it to keep down their increase in council tax for other council taxpayers. In other areas, local authorities have indicated their intention to apply the proceeds to specific purposes, such as the provision of more affordable housing.

South East England Regional Spatial Strategy

Anne Milton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister to what timetable he expects the South East England Regional Spatial Strategy to be completed.

Yvette Cooper: The South East England Regional Assembly has written to Ministers requesting an extension to the timetable of the South East Plan. The proposal is currently being considered.

Standards Board

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will require the Standards Board to record the amount of staff time spent on each investigation; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will require the Standards Board to record the post held by a local government officer making a complaint against a councillor; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will require the Standards Board to record the political affiliation of (a) a complainant councillor and (b) a respondent councillor, in respect of complaints; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will require the Standards Board to record the outcome of cases referred to it, by category of complainant; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Standards Board for England has recently introduced a system to record the amount of staff time spent on individual cases. The board records the numbers of allegations made by monitoring officers, but does not distinguish between the numbers submitted by other local authority officers. We have no plans to require the board to undertake any further monitoring of the kind referred to.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Incapacity Benefit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of claimant off-flows from jobseeker's allowance were due to the claimant claiming incapacity benefit for each of the last 10 years in (a) the UK, (b) England and Wales and (c) Birkenhead.

Anne McGuire: Information is not available prior to 1998; the available information is in the table.
	
		Jobseekers allowance (JSA) off-flows due to the claimant claiming incapacity benefit (IB), May 1998 to May 2005:United Kingdom, England, Wales and Birkenheadparliamentary constituency
		
			  United Kingdom England 
			  JSA off-flow to IB Percentage of total JSA off-flow JSA off-flow to IB Percentage of total JSA off-flow 
		
		
			 May 1998 12,235 4.2 9,375 4.0 
			 May 1999 15,410 4.8 11,580 4.5 
			 May 2000 9,805 4.1 7,305 3.9 
			 May 2001 9,345 4.4 6,970 4.2 
			 May 2002 9,615 4.2 7,220 4.0 
			 May 2003 7,870 4.0 5,975 3.8 
			 May 2004 9,465 3.8 7,240 3.6 
			 May 2005 7,560 4.0 5,725 3.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Wales Birkenhead parliamentary constituency 
			  JSA off-flow  to IB Percentage of total JSA off-flow JSA off-flow  to IB Percentage of total JSA off-flow 
		
		
			 May 1998 870 5.4 30 4.6 
			 May 1999 1,070 5.8 45 5.7 
			 May 2000 675 5.0 25 4.1 
			 May 2001 655 5.3 30 5.7 
			 May 2002 625 5.1 35 6.0 
			 May 2003 530 5.0 15 3.3 
			 May 2004 600 4.5 25 4.4 
			 May 2005 525 5.2 20 3.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	2.Percentages have been given to 1 decimal place.
	3.Figures do not include a small number of clerical cases.
	4.There a small number of claimants who flow off JSA with an unknown destination recordedit is possible that some of these claimants may have also flowed from JSA to IB. Therefore the above figures may be a slight undercount.
	Source:
	Count of unemployment-related benefits, jobcentre plus computer systems.

Local Housing Allowance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of levels of fraud and error in connection with payment of housing benefit within the local housing allowance pilot areas.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available as requested as data is not available below national level. Our latest estimates of fraud and error in housing benefit are published in Fraud and Error in Housing Benefit April 2002 to March 2004, which is available in the Library.
	We are continuing to evaluate the local housing allowance within the pathfinder areas. Qualitative data will be gathered for local authority staff as part of the evaluation programme. However, this will not include data on fraud and error.

Medical Examination Centres

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the impact on benefit claimants in (a) Amber Valley and (b) Derbyshire of the decision to close the medical examination centres in Derbyshire; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what requirements were placed by his Department on Atos Origin for determining the provision of medical examination centres for claimants of (a) incapacity benefit and (b) industrial injuries benefit; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many Amber Valley residents claiming (a) incapacity benefit and (b) industrial injuries benefit travelled to medical examination centres in (i) Derby, (ii) Chesterfield, (iii) Mansfield and (iv) Nottingham in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: As part of detailed discussion following the award of a new medical services contract the Department and Atos Origin are discussing a range of proposals including an estates strategy that will both improve service standards and secure investment in other areas. Further information will be made available once these discussions have been concluded.

Pension Credit

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in (a) Dudley, North and (b) Dudley as a whole are in receipt of the pension credit; how much they receive on average; how many people he estimates are eligible; and what steps are (i) in train and (ii) planned to encourage those who are not claiming pension credit to do so.

Stephen Timms: Information on the number of people in receipt of pension credit in Dudley, North and the local authority area of Dudley, and average awards, is set out in the following table. Information on the number of people who are eligible for pension credit is not available in respect of individual constituencies or local authority areas.
	The focus of the pension credit take-up campaign now concentrates on those people likely to be entitled but who have not responded to approaches so far. New marketing campaigns have been developed, which maximise the use of available data and which are carefully targeted on the regions and on demographic groups under-represented in relation to the volume of pension credit applications received. We are continually reviewing how the most eligible pensioners are responding to us and assessing alternative ways of contacting them.
	
		Pension credit recipients, Dudley, March 2005
		
			   Households  Individuals Average award () 
		
		
			 Dudley, North  constituency 6,030 7,635 39.17 
			 Dudley local  authority area 18,085 22,955 38.56 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	2.Figures relate to the end of the month.
	3.Individuals comprise claimants and partners and may contain a small number of partners aged under 60.
	4.Parliamentary constituencies and local authority areas are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS directory.
	5.The figures for March 2005 are the latest available.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, Department for Work and Pensions, 100 per cent. sample

Pension Protection Fund

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how employers will be informed of their expected contribution levels to the Pension Protection Fund; and if he will list the expected 10 largest contributors to the Fund.

Stephen Timms: Employers will receive an invoice for their Pension Protection Fund initial levy via The Pensions Regulator.
	It is not possible to disclose the details of the 10 largest contributors to the Pension Protection Fund. This is restricted information, held by the Pensions Regulator, where onward disclosure is only permitted to specified bodies for specific purposes in accordance with the provisions of the Pensions Act 2004.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 264W, on pensions, if he will list those representatives of the pensions industry with whom the issue of contracting-out was discussed.

Stephen Timms: My colleagues and I have recently had meetings with various representatives of the pensions industry. These have included representatives from the Association of British Insurers, the Pensions Commission, Watson Wyatt and the National Association of Pension Funds. Contracting out was amongst the issues discussed.

Pensions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on planned changes (a) to increase the minimum financial holdings contained within pension reserves and (b) to prohibit inappropriate use of pension funds.

Stephen Timms: The new scheme funding requirements set out in the Pensions Act 2004, and due to come into effect later this year, will require the trustees of private sector defined benefit schemes to adopt a funding strategy appropriate to the circumstances of their scheme. This strategy must provide for the scheme's pension commitments to be funded on a sufficiently prudent basis as required by the European Directive on the Activities and Supervision of Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision.
	New regulations governing occupational scheme investments, due to come into force later this year, will incorporate the prudent person principle explicitly into pensions legislation, in particular by requiring trustees to exercise their investment powers to ensure the security, quality, liquidity and profitability of the portfolio as a whole as required by the European Directive mentioned above. These provisions build on the existing fiduciary duty of pension scheme trustees to act in the best interest of their members, and statutory safeguards which require trustees to have regard to the suitability of proposed investments and the diversification of scheme assets, and the maintenance of a written statement of investment principles.
	Since April this year, the Pensions Regulator has been able to apply to the High Court for an injunction (in Scotland to the Court of Session for an interdict), which the court may grant where it is satisfied that there is a reasonable likelihood that a person will do an act which constitutes a misuse or misappropriation of assets of an occupational or personal pension scheme; or a person has done any such act and that there is a reasonable likelihood that he will continue or repeat the act or do a similar act.

Pensions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the applicability of the Pensions Protection Fund to Dexion pensions holders;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on planned state support for the Dexion pension holders;
	(3)  if he will make a statement on the timeframe for action by his Department on support for Dexion pensions holders.

Stephen Timms: The Pension Protection Fund (PPF) came into force on 6 April 2005. Members of pension schemes that began winding up before that date are not eligible for compensation form the PPF, but may be eligible for support from the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS). The Dexion Group Pension and Assurance Scheme was included in the indicative list, published on 22 February, of schemes which may be eligible for the FAS. Final decisions on whether schemes are eligible for FAS will be made as soon as possible after the FAS regulations have come into force. Draft regulations were laid on 22 June and are awaiting parliamentary approval.

Pensions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on plans to modify the cap on support for individuals in collapsed pensions schemes.

Stephen Timms: The level of the Pension Protection Fund compensation cap is prescribed in regulations and will be increased annually in line with earnings. The level of the proposed cap on Financial Assistance Scheme payments is set out in the draft regulations which were laid on 22 June.

Pensions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the taxable status of compensatory pensions for Dexion pension holders.

Stephen Timms: Any payment received by members of the Dexion pension scheme from the Financial Assistance Scheme will be treated for tax purposes in broadly the same way as payments from an occupational pension scheme.

Pensions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many company pensions have failed in each year since 1997; how many pension holders were affected; what the nominal pension reserve was in each case; whether withdrawals had been made from each pension fund at the time of the collapse of the business; how much and what proportion of the pension fund remained in each such case; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many pension funds have collapsed since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available in the format requested.
	Such information as is available from the register of pension schemes maintained by the Pensions Regulator indicates that around 720 private sector defined benefit schemes (with around 140,000 members in all) started to wind up between January 2000 and October 2004. These figures do not include schemes which completed wind-up during that period. The figures do not distinguish between schemes connected to solvent and insolvent employers. Information in the register on schemes which started to wind up before January 2000 does not show whether wind-up started before or after 1997. The register does not hold the information requested on scheme funding.
	In addition, data collected to inform development of the Financial Assistance Scheme, and published on 22 February, indicates that at least 380 defined benefit schemes with an insolvent employer started to wind up between January 1997 and December 2004. Only very limited data was collected on scheme funding.

Pensions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many former Dexion (a) workers and (b) retired workers he estimates are principally reliant on state pensions.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.

Pensions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the backdating of compensatory Government payments for Dexion pension holders.

Stephen Timms: The draft regulations for the Financial Assistance Scheme were laid on 22 June 2005 and are awaiting parliamentary approval. These contain a provision for payments to be backdated to the date we announced the Financial Assistance Scheme (14 May 2004) or the day on which the qualifying member reached the age of 65, whichever is the later. Arrears payments are likely to be in the form of a lump sum.

Pensions

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what level of basic state pension a person must have before a full state second pension added onto it will bring them outside eligibility for current pension credit.

Stephen Timms: A person who is entitled to the maximum amount of Additional State Pension (SERPS and State Second Pension), currently around 140 per week, would also be entitled to a basic state pension of more than half the current rate thus producing an income of at least 180 per week. A single person with income at this level would not normally be eligible for pension credit. However, people with severe disability, caring responsibility and housing costs could still be eligible.

Return to Work

Patrick McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to help people with adverse health conditions and disabilities to return to work.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 20 June 2005
	We are reforming the benefit system to encourage and promote work for those who are able to work and security for those for whom work is not an option. For people with adverse health conditions and disabilities, work is a real option if they are offered appropriate support in a timely way. Evidence shows the longer people remain on benefit the less likely they are to make the transition back to work.
	Early evidence from the innovative Pathways to Work approach is very positive. Around 20 per cent. of all those attending work-focused interviews (WFIs) take up one of the forms of back-to-work help available in Pathways areas. This is nearly six times higher than the level accessing back to work help elsewhere. It compares to around 4 per cent. in Jobcentre Plus pathfinder districts and around 2 per cent. nationally. By the end of March 2005, around 13,400 people have been helped back to work in the Pathways areas.

Skills Shortages

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of job vacancies that remained unfilled because of skills shortages in each year between 200102 and 200304.

Phil Hope: I have been asked to reply.
	No estimate is made of the total number of skill shortage vacancies over the period of a whole year but estimates are made of the level of such vacancies at a particular point in a year. My Department estimated that there were 159,000 vacancies that remained unfilled because of skills shortages at the time of the survey in 2001 and 135,000 in 2003. No estimate was made in 2002.

HEALTH

Acrylamide (Foodstuffs)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the public health implications arising from the presence of acrylamide in foodstuffs, with particular reference to potato crisps.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 27 June 2005
	Acrylamide occurs naturally in a wide range of home-cooked and processed food including potato crisps. It has been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Research into the effects on humans is on-going. Whilst encouraging initiatives to reduce acrylamide levels in food, the Food Standards Agency continues to recommend that people should eat a balanced healthy diet, including plenty of fruit and vegetables.

Adverse Incidents

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) fatal and (b) non-fatal adverse incidents occurred in hospitals in the NHS in each year since 1997, broken down by month.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not collect this information centrally.
	However, the Department is concerned about national health service patients affected by adverse events and that is why it established the National Patient Safety Agency in July 2001 and asked it to set up a national reporting and learning system for patient safety incidents. This system is now in place across the NHS and will in time enable us to understand the nature and extent of patient safety incidents and take further action to prevent or minimise their reoccurrence.

Alzheimer's Disease

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the availability of drugs for patients with moderately severe to severe Alzheimer's disease in Milton Keynes.

Caroline Flint: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently reviewing its 2001 appraisal of Alzheimer's drugs. Until NICE completes this review and issues new guidance, the 2001 guidance remains extant and those benefiting from the drugs in question will continue to do so.
	NICE is also pursuing an appraisal of non-Alzheimer pharmaceutical treatments. This appraisal has been halted while NICE awaits further information on drug licensing and marketing.
	NICE is also producing a comprehensive guideline on the treatment and care of those with dementia. This will take account of the appraisals being done on drug treatments for dementia. A draft of the guideline will be consulted on in 2006.
	The Milton Keynes primary care trust (PCT) carries out assessments for the use of Alzheimer's drugs using the NICE guidelines and prescribes according to them. The PCT will consider future practice when the NICE consultation has concluded and recommendations are made.

Alzheimer's Disease

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure on drugs available on the NHS for Alzheimer's disease was in Hornsey and Wood Green in the latest year for which figures are available; how many Alzheimer's disease patients are being treated by primary care trusts in Hornsey and Wood Green; how much was spent by the NHS on drug treatments for advanced Alzheimer's disease patients in Hornsey and Wood Green in the latest year for which figures are available; and what assessment she has made of the availability of drugs for patients with moderately severe to severe Alzheimer's disease in Hornsey and Wood Green.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Ambulance Service

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account was taken of (a) the impact on tri-service arrangements, (b) rural issues and (c) the future of patient transport in the report on the possible reconfiguration of the ambulance trusts for Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire; what (i) patient and (ii)public involvement there were in the preparation of the report; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The review of ambulance services that have taken place across the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) area, is centred around the ambulance service's main role of emergency care and its management structure.
	The future of tri-service arrangements will be for the new organisation to decide while ensuring the preservation of good local services as a priority.
	The rural nature of large parts of Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA have been a significant factor in the review, however, patient transport is not part of the review criteria.
	The steering group overseeing the review has been made up of all key stakeholders, not members of the public as this is a management report. The SHA is undertaking a period of communication with all key stakeholders, including staff and patients, over the summer period. It will take on board the views of people across the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA area. Changes to management and organisational structure do not require formal consultation as part of Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001. However, a discussion is planned to take place with national health service staff, the boards of all organisations involved and key stakeholders on the preferred option. A draft discussion document will be presented to the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA board for approval on 7 July 2005. A special board meeting is planned for 20 October 2005 to consider the results.

Audiology Services

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to reduce the number of people waiting (a) to be assessed for their first NHS hearing aid and (b) to switch from analogue to digital aids.

Liam Byrne: Through the modernising hearing aids (MHAS) programme, which was completed in March 2005, the Department has taken several steps to help the national health service increase the capacity of the hearing aid services to reduce waiting lists for assessment and provision of digital hearing aids. These include:
	The establishment of the national framework contract public private partnership (PPP). MHAS estimates that by 2006, 52,950 patients will have been fitted with digital hearing aids through PPP.
	Development of a new degree to help to address the shortage of audiologists180 students started the audiology BSc. course in 200405.
	Setting up pilot sites for Hearing Direct. These offer follow-up care and advice for selected hearing aid users and reduces the patient journey time. Research suggests it may be suitable for one third of all NHS hearing aid patients.

Forget Me Not Report

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made against the priorities for action set out in the Audit Commission's Forget Me Not report in 2002.

Liam Byrne: The recommendations in the Forget Me Not report were principally addressed to local health and social care agencies. It is for these local agencies to decide on their priorities in the light of local circumstances.

Autism

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support services are provided for people who suffer from autism; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: It is for local authorities and health service providers to determine how best to provide services to meet the needs of individuals with autism, including those with autistic spectrum disorder.

British Pregnancy Advisory Service

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 June 2005, Official Report, column 302W on the British Pregnancy Advisory Service; when she expects to complete her consideration of the Chief Medical Officer's report on the BPAS.

Caroline Flint: As my reply of 14 June stated, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.

Broomfield Tip (Fire)

Neil Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has undertaken into the effect of benzen particulates and gases emanating from the fire at Broomfield Tip, Standish, on the health of residents in the vicinity.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 27 June 2005
	This is a matter for the Director of Public Health at the Ashton, Wigan Primary Care Trust and the Health Protection Agency.

Bt 10 Maize

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantities of Bt 10 maize have been imported into the UK; over what period; and what quantities she estimates have been consumed by (a) animals and (b) humans.

Caroline Flint: The exact quantity of Bt 10 maize imported into the United Kingdom is not known. It is estimated that up to 0.025 per cent., of the 200104 United States of America maize harvests may have contained Bt 10 maize and imports into the EU during this period may have contained Bt 10 maize at this level. The European food industry has stated to the commission that it only uses US maize products that are from protected non-genetically modified sources. The quantities of Bt 10 maize imported to the UK for food use should therefore be nil. Maize in the form of corn gluten feed and brewers' grains is imported from the US for animal feed. However, the amount of Bt 10 maize potentially consumed by animals is not known.

Burns Units (London)

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist burns services units there are in the Greater London region.

Jane Kennedy: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is the only specialist burns service unit within Greater London.

Cancer (Waiting Times)

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mean waiting time in days from the time of diagnosis by consultant to hospital admission for treatment was for (a) cancer of the brain, (b) cancer of the prostate, (c) cancer of the ovary and (d) cancer of the liver in (i) 199798 and (ii) 200304.

Rosie Winterton: The data are not collected centrally in the format requested.

Cancer Treatment

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which NHS trusts have contracts with private companies for the examination of cervical cancer smear tests; which companies are involved; and whether any send smear tests outside the UK for screening.

Rosie Winterton: We do not centrally collect data on the use of independent sector providers of cervical screening services, and we are not aware that any cervical screening slides are sent outside of the United Kingdom to be interpreted. Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning cervical screening services for their local populations to explicit national quality standards. It is a matter for individual PCTs to decide on who provides their local service, whether in the national health service or the independent sector.
	The advisory committee on cervical screening has agreed a set of standards for laboratories reporting cervical screening slides outside of the NHS, including overseas.

Cancer Treatment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the availability of antibody treatment for cancer in the NHS;
	(2)  what research she has evaluated on antibody treatment for cancer.

Rosie Winterton: There are several monoclonal antibodies that are licensed for the treatment of cancer and can be prescribed to patients on the national health service. These are cetuximab for the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer; trastuzumab for the treatment of advanced breast cancer, alemtuzumab for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and rituximab for the treatment of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has appraised two of these drugstrastuzumab for advanced breast cancer and rituximab for the treatment of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. These appraisals included an evaluation of the available research evidence. NICE is now in the process of appraising cetuximab for advanced colorectal cancer. This guidance is expected to be published in November 2006.

Care Homes

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Office of Fair Trading's report on care homes for older people.

Liam Byrne: The Office of Fair Trading published a report on care homes for older people on 18 May 2005. The report made a number of recommendations to the Government, which are currently under consideration.

Care Provision Funding

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution to the cost of care provision came from (a) equity release and (b) other property based loans in (i) absolute and (ii) percentage terms, in the last period for which figures are available; and what plans she has to bring forward proposals to change this proportion.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally.
	We made a manifesto commitment to provide the right framework to make staying at home an attractive option for people in need of long-term care for schemes, through schemes such as equity release. We are considering how to take forward this commitment.

Clinical Negligence Claims

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many clinical negligence claims were made against NHS bodies in each year since 1996.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 6 June 2005
	Centrally collected data from the NHS Litigation Authority is shown in the following table:
	
		Total number of clinical negligence claims reported to the NHSLA based upon date reported to the NHSLA scheme member, as at 31 March 2005
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 199697 4,136 
			 199798 6,932 
			 199899 6,916 
			 19992000 7,036 
			 200001 6,915 
			 200102 7,215 
			 200203 6,257 
			 200304 4,844 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Clinical negligence scheme for trusts (CNST) claims are those in respect of liabilities occurring on or after 1 April 1995. Existing liability scheme (ELS) claims are those open at 1 April 1996, where the incident pre dates 1 April 1995. Former Regional health authority (RHA) claims are pre-April 1996 and are cases against the former RHAs, fully funded by the NHSLA.
	2.The year a claim is notified to the NHSLA has no relevance to the year the incident giving rise to a claim occurred.

Clostridium Difficile

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the first statistics will be published from the mandatory surveillance of (a) Clostridium difficile infections and (b) surgical site infections.

Jane Kennedy: Data from the mandatory surveillance system for Clostridium difficile associated diarrhoea will be available this summer and information for orthopaedic surgical site infections will be published in the autumn. This data is likely to be published annually.

Continuing Care

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps she has taken to assess the legality of the guidance given to strategic health authorities concerning the provision of free continuing care since publication of recommendation 15 of the Health Committee Report of 5 April;
	(2)  what guidance she has given to social service departments concerning the regulations issued in 2001 that self-funders cannot be required to sell their homes in their own lifetime since the then Minister's evidence on the subject to the Health Select Committee on 17 March;
	(3)  what steps she has taken to secure compliance by strategic health authorities with recommendation 17 of the Health Committee Report of 5 April on the assessment of patients with continuing needs before they leave hospital;
	(4)  what action she has taken to secure compliance by strategic health authorities with her Department's guidance recorded in paragraph 151 of the Health Committee report of 5 April concerning assessment for continuing care.

Liam Byrne: The Government are considering the Committee's report and we will publish our response before the summer recess.

Dementia

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had, and with whom, on the recommendations made in the report of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Alzheimer's Society on early onset dementia; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: There have been no discussions on this report. I understand the report will be published in its final form in the autumn. We are working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Alzheimer's Society to improve mental health services for older people.

Digital Hearing Aids

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time patients diagnosed as having hearing problems waited to be fitted with digital hearing aids was in the last year for which figures are available; what the figures were in each region; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: This information is not held centrally.

Drug Rehabilitation (Portsmouth)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which drug rehabilitation centres are available to residents of Portsmouth within a 10-mile radius of the city centre.

Caroline Flint: I am advised by Portsmouth City Primary Care Trust that the rehabilitation centres are:
	ANA Portsmouth
	Two Saints Foster Road
	Phoenix Alpha House, Droxford.

ECT Treatment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in England have undergone electroconvulsive therapy in each of the past five years; and how many were (a) 50 years or over and (b) 65 years or over.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not available in the requested format. The latest information available on electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) is that contained in the Department's publication Statistical Bulletin Electro Convulsive Therapy: Survey covering the period from January 2002 to March 2002, England. This was a follow-up to an earlier survey of the period January to March 1999. Both surveys were undertaken to provide data on ECT that are not currently available elsewhere.
	The 2002 survey confirmed the continuing downward trend in the number of administrations of ECT. It collected information from national health service and independent sector care settings, including nursing homes, on the total number of administrations of ECT in NHS and independent sector care settings including data on sex, age, ethnicity, legal status and method of consent.
	It found that in the period January to March 2002:
	2,300 patients received ECT treatment compared to 2,800 in 1999; there were 700 male patients receiving treatment, compared with 1,600 female patients; there were 12,800 administrations of ECT compared to 16,500 in January to March 1999; of the 2,272 patients in England who underwent ECT in 2002, 1,709 were aged 45 and over, and 1,053 were aged 65 and over. This compares to figures of 2,079 and 1,176, respectively, of the total of 2,835 in the 1999 survey.
	Copies of the 2002 survey and the earlier 1999 survey are available in the Library.

Edgware Hospital

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the progress over the proposed MRI scanner for Edgware hospital.

Jane Kennedy: A site for an magnetic resonance imaging scanner has been identified at Edgware hospital, but further work is necessary before final decisions can be taken.

Epidermolysis Bullosa

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she has taken to improve (a) awareness of and (b) training on epidermolysis bullosa for health professionals; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department is not responsible for setting curricula for health professional training. However, we do share a commitment with statutory and professional bodies that all health professionals are trained, so that they have the skills and knowledge to deliver a high quality health service to all groups of the population with whom they deal, whatever their condition.
	Post-registration training needs for national health service staff are determined against local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by local delivery plans and the needs of the service.

Food Procurement

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by her Department on public procurement of food in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what proportion of that expenditure was covered under Crown immunity on food safety matters.

Jane Kennedy: The Department has a catering contract which is maintained at nil subsidy and covers four headquarters buildings. The contractor is responsible for ensuring that all his staff are fully trained in food safety procedures. As the contractor is not a Crown body, it is are not covered by Crown immunity.

General Practitioners

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to her answer of 8 June 2005, Official Report, column 587W, on general practitioner appointments, how many patients were included in the monitoring data; and what definition of patients is used for the purposes of the monitoring exercise.

Liam Byrne: The Department holds data on the appointment arrangements which each general practice offers to its patients. This data is collected monthly by primary care trusts and the results are converted into numbers of patients using each practiced registered list size. For April, the total number of patients was 52,786,540.

General Practitioners

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients have not had the opportunity to book advance GP appointments, in each month since the monitoring process began.

Liam Byrne: The data requested is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Month Patients who cannot book more than two days in advance (percentage) 
		
		
			 November 2004 12.4 
			 December 2004 7.6 
			 January 2005 6.5 
			 February 2005 5.4 
			 March 2005 3.6 
			 April 2005 1.5 
			 May 2005 1.3

GM Food

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of the implications for human health of the consumption of GM foods containing antibiotic resistance marker genes.

Caroline Flint: In the European Union, all genetically modified (GM) foods are subject to a mandatory pre-market safety assessment before they can be permitted to enter the food chain. This assessment is the responsibility of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and is based on a wide body of scientific evidence submitted in support of each application, including data on the presence of antibiotic resistance marker genes (ARMs). The significance of the presence of these genes is assessed on a case by case basis.
	In April 2004, the EFSA scientific panel on genetically modified organisms published an opinion on the use of ARMs in GM plants. The UK advisory committee on novel foods and processes (ACNFP) considered this opinion at its meeting in May 2004. The Committee agreed with EFSA's conclusion that the safety of ARMS should take into account both the prevalence of resistance to the antibiotic among bacteria, in the intestine or in the environment, and the extent of use of the antibiotic and its importance for clinical human or animal therapy.

GM Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account has been taken of Food Standards Agency research in formulating the Government's policy on genetically modified food; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) were set up as a non-ministerial Government Department in April 2000 and has the objective of protecting public health from risks associated with consumption of food, and otherwise protecting the interests of consumers in relation to food. Government policy on genetically modified food is formulated through discussion among all the relevant Government Departments, including the FSA.

Health Authority for London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to create a Health Authority for London; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: There are currently five strategic health authorities (SHAs) in London. As stated in Creating a Patient-Led NHS (March 2005), the Department expects a reduction in the number of SHAs as more national health service trusts move to NHS foundation trust status. However, no decisions about the future of London SHAs, including whether there should be a single health authority, have been taken.

Health Care Demand (London)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of (a) the current and (b) the expected growth in demand for maternity services in London; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: In line with the Department's Shifting the Balance of Power policy, any assessment on current and expected demand for local maternity services would be for strategic health authorities and primary care trusts to consider.

Health Development Agency

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what budget was allocated to the Health Development Agency in each year since its inception.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		Health Development Agency Allocations(46):information taken from HDA published accounts --  thousand
		
			  Total allocations from Government sources 
		
		
			 200001 11,288 
			 200102 12,261 
			 200203 11,015 
			 200304 11,992 
			 200405(47) 12,943 
		
	
	(46)The Health Development Agency was abolished on 31 March 2005 and its functions transferred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on 1 April 2005.
	(47)The final accounts for the HDA's last year of operation have not yet been completed. The figure quoted is from the Department of Health's cash limit allocation letter to the HDA.

Health Finance (Oxfordshire)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much and what percentage of the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare Trust budget she expects to come from (a) primary care trusts and (b) other sources; and from which other sources she expects such funds to come;
	(2)  how much and what percentage of the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust budget for 200506 she expects to come from (a) primary care trusts, (b) reserve funding, (c) funding on a consequence of the John Radcliffe being a teaching hospital and (d) other sources; and from which other sources she expects such funding to come.

Caroline Flint: The table shows data for 200304, which is the latest year for which figures are available.
	The Department has no information relating to reserve funding or to funding on a consequence of the John Radcliffe being a teaching hospital.
	
		Income of the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare National Health Service Trust and the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust, 200304 -- 000
		
			  Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust 
		
		
			 Income from activitiesincome received from: 
			 Strategic health authorities 0 1,841 
			 NHS trusts 307 31 
			 Primary care trusts 55,184 318,297 
			 Local authorities 47 0 
			 Non NHS: private patients 47 12,140 
			 Non-NHS: overseas patients (non-reciprocal) 0 102 
			 Road Traffic Act 3 1,165 
			 Non NHS: other 0 2 
			 Total income from activities 55,588 333,578 
			
			 Other operating incomeincome received from: 
			 Education, training and research 6,400 40,514 
			 Charitable and other contributions to expenditure 0 2,449 
			 Transfers from the donated asset reserve in respect of depreciation, impairment and disposal of donated assets 22 1,938 
			 Other income, for example, charges to staff, income from the Department for non-patient care services 19,975 45,462 
			 Total other operating income 26,397 90,363 
			 Total income 81,985 423,941 
		
	
	Source:
	Audited summarisation schedules of the Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust and the Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust, 200304.

Health Finance (Oxfordshire)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the formula is on which funding is allocated to the (a) Cherwell Vale Primary Care Trust, (b) North East Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust and (c) Oxford City Primary Care Trust.

Caroline Flint: A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each primary care trust's (PCTs) target share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need.
	The components of the formula are used to weight each PCTs crude population according to their relative need (age and additional need) for healthcare and the unavoidable geographical differences in the cost of providing healthcare (the market forces factor).

Health Finance (Oxfordshire)

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much she expects (a) Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust, (b) Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust and (c) primary care trusts in Oxfordshire to overspend in the 200506 financial year.

Caroline Flint: The financial plans for 200506 have not yet been finalised, but national health service organisations are expected to plan to live within their revenue resource, capital resource and cash limits each and every year.

Hepatitis C

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with hepatitis C in England in each of the last seven years.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is available on the Health Protection Agency's website at: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/hepatitis_c/data.htm

Hepatitis C

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fibre scan machines used to diagnose hepatitis C there are in England.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not held centrally. FibroScan(r) is used to measure the degree of liver fibrosis (scarring) from any cause. It is not used to diagnose hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the establishment of managed clinical networks to provide accessible specialist assessment and treatment for people with hepatitis C infection since the publication of the National Hepatitis C Strategy for England.

Caroline Flint: In line with Shifting the Balance of Power, decisions about networks and their funding are for local determination. We understand that managed clinical networks have so far either been established or are being considered in London, South West peninsula, East Anglia, West Midlands, Trent, Liverpool and North East England.

Hepatitis C

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role she plans for screening in the process of controlling the spread and progression of hepatitis C infections.

Caroline Flint: Testing of those at current or past risk of hepatitis C infection by the national health service and other key stakeholders is one of the key areas for action set out in the Department's Hepatitis C Action Plan for England, which is available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/47/13/04084713.pdf.

Hepatitis C

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to improve data collection relating to the spread of hepatitis C in England.

Caroline Flint: Actions to improve the epidemiological surveillance of hepatitis C are set out in the Department's Hepatitis C Action Plan for England, which is available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/47/13/04084713.pdf.

Hepatitis C

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the level of monitoring of disease progression of hepatitis C among sufferers with mild liver disease.

Caroline Flint: The Department has not made such an assessment. The monitoring of individual patients with hepatitis C who have mild disease is a matter for clinical judgement.
	In 2001, The Royal College of Physicians of London and the British Society of Gastroenterology published Clinical guidelines on the management of hepatitis C. This is available on the Gut website at http://gut.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/49/suppl_1/I1

Hospital Beds

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is her policy to reduce bed occupancy levels in NHS trusts to 82 per cent.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not set targets for bed occupancy for national health service trusts. Appropriate occupancy levels, which vary depending on the range and type of services they provide, and the way in which the admission and discharge of patients is managed, are for the NHS to determine locally.

Hospital Cleaning

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cleaners in hospitals in England are employed by (a) the NHS and (b) private contractors providing services to the NHS; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  how many cleaners are employed at each hospital in England; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: National health service organisations make decisions locally on the number and supplier, either NHS-employed or contracted out, of cleaners for their estate, consistent with their requirements.
	The latest headcount figure for the number of staff who undertake cleaning in the NHS is 55,000 for 200304. This figure excludes managers, administrative and supervisory staff who do not physically carry out cleaning functions as a main part of their work. In collecting this data from the NHS, no distinction is made between NHS employees and contracted out staff.
	Other staff groups may also carry out cleaning in addition to their main role; these staff are not included. For instance, in some trusts nurses may be responsible for cleaning patient equipment and for dealing with spillages out of hours.
	Information on the breakdown of this figure, by individual NHS hospital trust, has been placed in the Library.

Hospitals

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on proposals (a) to reduce bed numbers and (b) to change service provision at the West Herts Hospital Trust's Hemel Hempstead and Watford hospitals.

Rosie Winterton: In line with our policy of Shifting the Balance of Power, the configuration of local services is a matter for the local national health service, working in partnership with its local community.
	The reconfiguration of services at West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust is part of the wider reconfiguration of services in both Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire, known as Investing in Your Health. The strategic outline case for this major reconfiguration of services was approved in July 2004 by the then Secretary of State for Health.

Hospitals

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses employed in (a) Sunderland Royal Hospital, (b) Hartlepool University Hospital and (c) Durham University Hospital were recruited from outside the UK.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not collect this information centrally. While information is collected on the country of qualification of nurses, this does not equate to their location when recruited to work in the national health service.

Hospitals

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many palliative care beds there have been in (a) Sunderland Royal Hospital, (b) Hartlepool University Hospital and (c) Durham University Hospital in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the numbers of beds and those specifically identified as palliative beds for the trusts concerned. It should be noted that beds may be used for palliative care without being specifically designated as such. 
	
		Average daily number of available beds, NHS organisations in England, 200304
		
			  199798 199899 
			 Name Total beds Terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult Total beds Terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult 
		
		
			 City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust 1,005 0 997 0 
			 North Tees Health NHS Trust 639 0 620 0 
			 Hartlepool and East Durham NHS Trust 445 0 441 0 
			 North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust 
			 South Durham NHS Trust 432 0   
			 Bishop Auckland Hospitals NHS Trust 406 0   
			 Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust 381 0   
			 South Durham Health Care NHS Trust   812 0 
			 North Durham Community Health Care NHS Trust 418 0   
			 North Durham Acute Hospitals Trust 611 0   
			 North Durham Health Care NHS Trust   746 0 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
		
	
	
		
			  19992000 200001 
			 Name Total beds Terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult Total beds Terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult 
		
		
			 City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust 957 0 972 0 
			 North Tees Health NHS Trust 
			 Hartlepool and East Durham NHS Trust 
			 North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust 844 0 868 0 
			 South Durham NHS Trust 
			 Bishop Auckland Hospitals NHS Trust 
			 Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust 
			 South Durham Health Care NHS Trust 790 0 829 0 
			 North Durham Community Health Care NHS Trust 
			 North Durham Acute Hospitals Trust 
			 North Durham Health Care NHS Trust 701 0 720 0 
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 
		
	
	
		
			  200102 200203 200304 
			 Name Total beds Terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult Total beds Terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult Total beds Terminally ill/palliative care: wholly or mainly adult 
		
		
			 City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust 981 0 959 18 978 18 
			 North Tees Health NHS Trust   
			 Hartlepool and East Durham NHS Trust   
			 North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust 841 0 824 0 823 0 
			 South Durham NHS Trust   
			 Bishop Auckland Hospitals NHS Trust   
			 Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust   
			 South Durham Health Care NHS Trust 833 0 817 0   
			 North Durham Community Health Care NHS Trust   
			 North Durham Acute Hospitals Trust   
			 North Durham Health Care NHS Trust 613 0 649 0   
			 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 1,488 0 
		
	
	Note:
	The terminally ill/palliative care figures provided include all beds in wards classified as such.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH03

Intensive Care/High Dependency (Costs)

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of (a) intensive care and (b) high dependency care in Enfield was in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what percentage this represented of the overall budget for NHS hospital beds in Enfield in that year.

Liam Byrne: The national average cost of an occupied bed day in a discrete critical care unit is collected in the annual national health service reference costs exercise, directly from NHS providers. There are two hospitals in Enfield; Chase Farm hospital, part of Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals NHS trust and North Middlesex university hospitals NHS trust.
	Data provided by these organisations for the reference costs 2004 collection, with regard to discrete critical care services, is shown in table 1.
	
		Table 1: costs per occupied bed day in each type of discrete unit
		
			  Barnet and Chase Farm NHS trust North Middlesex university hospitals NHS trust 
			 Unit type Cost per occupied bed day () Number of occupied bed days Cost per occupied bed day () Number of occupied bed days 
		
		
			 Intensive therapy unit/intensive care unit 1,208 4,744 1,235 2,792 
			 Cardiac intensive care unit 478 5,309 n/a n/a 
			 High dependency unit n/a n/a 517 1,354 
			 Neonatal intensive care unitlevel 1 750 1,672 938 449 
			 Neonatal intensive care unitlevel 2 n/a n/a 420 5,073 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the total cost of critical care services and that cost as a percentage of the overall expenditure for each of the NHS providers located in Enfield. It also shows details of the calculated total picture for Enfield.
	
		Table 2: total cost of critical care services
		
			  Total costs of discrete critical care services ( thousand) Percentage of overall expenditure 
		
		
			 Barnet and Chase Farm NHS trust 9,526 4.6 
			 North Middlesex university  hospitals NHS trust 6,701 6.0 
			 Enfield calculated total 16,227 5.1.

Jarvis plc (Private Finance Initiative)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the private finance initiative contracts that exist between NHS organisations and Jarvis plc.

Liam Byrne: In January 2005 Jarvis's shareholding in national health service private finance initiative (PFI) projects was ended when the infrastructure investment group secondary market infrastructure fund bought out its equity interests in two project companies which hold PFI contracts with NHS bodiesthe Whittington hospitals NHS trust and Birmingham hospitals NHS trust. Jarvis subsidiary companies continue to provide construction and long-term facilities management (FM) services at these schemes, under a subcontract with the project companies.
	Jarvis is also a subcontractor of a charitable trust which has entered into a PFI contract with Newbury and Community primary care trust. Jarvis group companies acted as the construction contractor and are now providing FM services.

Leukaemia

Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will meet the charity Children with Leukaemia to discuss the implications of the Draper report; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There are currently no plans to meet the charity Children with Leukaemia. The recent publication in the British Medical Journal by Dr.Draper and colleagues found a statistically increased incidence of leukaemia for children whose home address at birth was near power lines compared with those further away. The work was funded by the Department and has significantly added to the body of knowledge built up over the last few years regarding this very important subject. The work will continue with an investigation of the electromagnetic field (EMF) exposures at the addresses studied.
	A number of population studies in the past have linked magnetic field exposure with a raised incidence of childhood leukaemia. This has led to the International Agency for Cancer Research to classify extremely low frequency fields or ELF, such as those associated with power lines and domestic wiring as a possible carcinogen. The World Health Organisation and indeed the Health Protection Agency have recommended additional research and the need for further precautionary measures to be considered.
	The stakeholder advisory group on electromagnetic ELF fields (SAGE) set up last year has already enabled Government officials to engage in detailed discussions with industry, regulators, professional bodies and interest groups about how to respond to this complex issue. The intention of the process is to offer carefully considered recommendations in the interests of society as a whole, which can be found on R.K. Partnership's website at: www.rkpartnership.co.uk/sage

Hair Dyes (Cancer Risk)

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will commission research into possible links between the use of hair dye and lymphoma.

Caroline Flint: There has been some research which suggested a weak link between occupational use of hair dyes and increased risk of cancer, although overall the epidemiological literature is unclear whether an association exists between use of hair dyes and lymphoma.
	The European Union initiated a review of hair dyes a few years ago. Advice on the standards of testing and research to be undertaken by industry in order to support continued use of hair dyes was provided by the EU's Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food products intended for consumers (SCCNFP). The SCCNFP has subsequently been replaced by the Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products (SCCP). The SCCP is continuing the review of hair dyes and its agendas, minutes and opinions are available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/ph risk/committees/04 sccp/04 SCCP en.htm.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been treated by child and adolescent mental health services in each of the last eight years.

Liam Byrne: Since 2002, some data about the overall child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) case load in England has been collected by the annual CAMHS mapping exercise. This includes a snapshot of the total CAMHS case load in England in a four-week period. The case load is defined as the number of active cases that CAMHS teams worked with during the four-week period. The table shows a headcount of children and young people who have received support, treatment and care from specialist CAMHS professionals.
	
		Finished consultant episodes under mental illness specialities in national health service hospitals by age at end of episode: Children and adolescents, 199697 to 200304(48)
		
			 Data year Aged 18 and under All episodes 
		
		
			 200304(48) 5,780 187,540 
			 200203(48) 5,170 197,070 
			 200102 5,400 206,910 
			 200001 5,140 213,840 
			 19992000 5,120 224,300 
			 199899 5,200 228,170 
			 199798 5,770 236,000 
			 199697 6,180 237,370 
		
	
	(48)Data for the years 200203 and 200304 have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data and unknown/invalid clinical data, ie the data are ungrossed.
	Notes:
	1.Disclosure rules apply due to the sensitive nature of the data; therefore, figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	2.In the four-week period in 2002 a total of 80,602 children and young people were seen and this increased to 86,521 in 2003. The 2004 CAMHS mapping will be published shortly.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to reduce violent and threatening behaviour within mental health wards.

Jane Kennedy: At national level a head of mental health and learning disabilities has been appointed by the NHS Security Management Service (NHS SMS) to lead on a specific programme of work, aimed at providing safe, secure and therapeutic environments in mental health and learning disability settings. The post holder has extensive clinical experience in these environments and was formerly a professional advisor to the Nursing and Midwifery Council on violence against staff. The head is responsible for the development of professionally trained and accredited local security management specialists for mental health and learning disability settings, which will be fully implemented in these areas by summer 2006.
	The local security management specialists, supported by the NHS SMS, will ensure that each mental health and learning disability trust has access to professional and specialist skills to tackle issues such as violence in these settings. This role includes developing preventative measures as well as managing violent incidents when they occur.
	The NHS SMS has also developed a training syllabus on non-physical intervention techniques for those working in mental health and learning disability settings. This syllabus will be rolled out in autumn 2005 and will complement the National Institute for Mental Health in England's (NIMHE) work on physical interventions.
	Guidance developed by NIMHE, Developing Positive Practice to Support the Safe and Therapeutic Management of Aggression and Violence in Mental Health In-patient Settings (February 2004) and by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence The Short-term Management of Disturbed/Violent Behaviour in In-patient Psychiatric Settings and Emergency Departments (February 2005) has already been made available to national health service bodies. A key role for the LSMS will be to ensure that this guidance is implemented where appropriate.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to primary care trusts on the provision of (a) alternative and (b) cognitive behavioural therapies in mental health wards.

Rosie Winterton: Psychological therapies, which include cognitive behavioural therapy, were included alongside drug treatments in the national service framework for mental heath (1999) to reflect their importance alongside drug treatments, and their popularity with some service users. In 2001, an evidence based guideline, Treatment choice in psychological therapies and counselling was published in 2001 to help general practitioners and other professionals know more about the most effective treatments for particular conditions. A booklet for service users and carers, Choosing talking treatments?, was also published in 2001 to help them know the questions to ask when seeking a talking treatment. The Department also published a best practice guide entitled Organising and delivering psychological therapies (2004) in order to help local services deliver acceptable, accessible, equitable, cost effective and safe psychological therapy services.
	As stated in the national director for mental health's recent report on the implementation of the national service framework for mental health, Five years on, published in 2004, the Department is planning to commission a review of evidence of effectiveness of complementary healthcare for mental health problems. This review will inform the development of a national framework for supporting local innovation in mental health services to make them more responsive to individual needs.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to increase provision to (a) train and (b) recruit psychologists for inpatient mental health wards.

Rosie Winterton: Within the context of implementing the National mental health workforce strategy (2004), the Department will continue with its drive to increase the numbers of staff who can deliver psychological therapies which has contributed to an almost 75 per cent. increase in the number clinical psychologists and a 125 per cent. increase in the number of non-medical psychotherapists working in the national health service since 1997.
	In addition, as set out in the national director for mental health's report on the implementation of the national service framework for mental health, Five years on (2004), a new programme of work in the National Institute for Mental Health in England will explore ways of expanding the availability of talking treatments. These are likely to include improved psychological therapy skills in frontline staff, new staff who are trained in brief interventions of proven effectiveness, self-help technologies and a broader choice of providers of therapy in the national health service and the independent sector. These initiatives are being supported by the Department's guidance entitled Organising and Delivering Psychological Therapies (2004).

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being implemented following the publication of the national service framework for mental healthFive years on.

Rosie Winterton: The Department will continue with the implementation of the national service framework for mental health (1999), take forward the recommendations of the Social Exclusion Unit's report on mental health (2004), help challenge discrimination against people with mental health problems through a new anti-stigma programme, eradicate unsuitable mental health wards and work to improve mental health care for ethnic minorities. The Department will put greater emphasis on improving the mental health and well-being of the community as a whole and explore ways of expanding the availability of talking treatments. The Department will continue to work towards its public service agreement target to reduce mortality rates from suicide and undetermined injury by at least 20 per cent. by 2010.

Methadone/Buprenorphine

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued to drug actions teams on the use of (a) methadone and (b) buprenorphine.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The Department and the National Treatment Agency, as part of their commitment to appropriate substitute prescribing, have produced a number of pieces of work in support of this objective. These are:
	Clinical Guidelines on the Management of Drug Dependence (Department of Health, 1999), which is based on an expert review of the evidence. This is a key document underpinning standards of treatment interventions, including substitute prescribing, expected of professionals.
	Research Into Practice: Prescribing Services for Drug Misuse (National Treatment Agency, January 2003). This document provided recommendations in relation to recommended guiding principles of an effective prescribing regime and the recommended components of an effective prescribing service.
	A Chief Medical Officer letter (January 2001) relating to a change in national health service regulations that allowed for the instalment dispensing of buprenorphine. This regulation change was seen as being effective in increasing prescribers' willingness to prescribe buprenorphine as the risk of overdose and diversion was reduced substantially.
	As part of our continuing commitment to develop the evidence base in this area as part of our objective to increase the effectiveness of treatment, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, as part of its 10th wave, has agreed to do an appraisal of methadone and buprenorphine in the treatment of drug addiction. This important work, which will be completed by the end of 2006, is likely to be influential in the development of appropriate and effective substitute prescribing in future years.

MMR (Students)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what advice the Department has given to (a) general practitioners and (b) medical centres covering university campuses about the MMR vaccination for students;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to ensure that unprotected university students are able to receive the MMR vaccination; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Department continues to support locally organised catch-up campaigns through supplying the MMR vaccine free of charge, and providing supplies of a leaflet containing information on this issue.
	The Department sent a Public Health Alert to general practitioners in May 2004, alerting them to the risk posed by cases of mumps occurring at an international student's sports event in Spain. The Department also wrote to immunisation co-ordinators on MMR and older children in January 2005.
	The Department's advice remains that all children need two doses of MMR vaccine to be protected against measles, mumps and rubella.

MMR (Students)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of (a) mumps and (b) measles among students there were in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: Data showing the number of laboratory confirmed cases of measles and mumps for the age groups 15 to 19 years, 20 to 24 years, and total cases for the years 200004 are shown in the table.
	There is no way of knowing exactly how many of these cases relate specifically to university students, but it is likely many will be students in further education institutions.
	The increase in mumps cases is predominantly in a particular cohort of children (those born between 1983 and 1987) who would not have been routinely offered MMR. During the last five years the mumps outbreaks have moved from older secondary school students to university/college students (percentage of total cases for each age group show this). We know that many of the mumps cases reported in 2003 to 2005 have been from university and college outbreaks, or linked to these.
	
		Laboratory confirmed cases of measles and mumps : 200004
		
			  Mumps Measles 
			  1519 years 2024 years all ages 1519 years 2024 years all ages 
			  Number (%) Number (%) Number Number (%) Number (%) Number 
		
		
			 2000 126 17.9 10 1.4 703 6 6.0 4 4.0 100 
			 2001 202 26.0 28 3.6 777 9 12.9 11 15.7 70 
			 2002 244 48.6 50 10.0 502 23 7.5 19 6.2 308 
			 2003 811 52.4 276 17.8 1,549 21 4.8 17 3.8 442 
			 2004 3,793 46.8 2,609 32.2 8,104 3 1.6 7 3.7 190 
		
	
	Source:
	Health Protection Agency website http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/measles/data_reg_age.htm
	http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/mumps/data_reg_age.htm

Mobile Phone Risks (Children)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the possible risk posed by mobile phones to young children; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures are being taken to reduce the number of young children being exposed to mobile phones.

Caroline Flint: The comprehensive research reviews in this country undertaken for the Stewart report in 2000 and for the Health Effects from Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields do not suggest there are adverse health effects from the use of mobile phone technologies. Most reviews, however, note there are gaps in our scientific knowledge and therefore recommend continued research and the adoption of a precautionary approach with respect to children in particular.
	Our advice to parents of children and young people under 16 on the use of mobile phones is set out in the leaflet Mobile phones and Health, available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/fs/en. It states:
	the UK Chief Medical Officers strongly advise that where children and young people do use mobile phones, they should be encouraged to use mobile phones for essential purposes only and keep all calls short.
	The advice adds that:
	if parents want to avoid their children being subject to any possible risk that might be identified in the future, the way to do it is to exercise their choice not to let their children use mobile phones.
	In line with the Stewart report's precautionary approach, the mobile phone operators reviewed their marketing policies to ensure they do not actively market mobile phones to the under-16s.
	A more recent report from the National Radiological Protection Board, now the Health Protection Agency's radiation protection division, issued in January 2005, entitled Mobile Phones and Health 2004, recommends that limiting the use of mobile phones by children remains an appropriate precautionary measure.

MRSA

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government plans to take to combat the threat of MRSA in hospitals.

Jane Kennedy: Tackling meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other healthcare associated infections is a top priority.
	Our wide ranging programme to tackle these infections includes:
	a target to halve MRSA blood stream infections by 2008;
	the first national hand hygiene campaign;
	trials of a rapid review MRSA screening test to show if new methods can improve patient care;
	consultation on a new hygiene bill;
	materials for NHS staff such as Saving Lives: a delivery programme to reduce healthcare associated infections including MRSA.

Needle Exchange Projects (Hepatitis C)

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of needle exchange projects on the prevention of hepatitis C infection in (a) the Burton constituency and (b) England.

Caroline Flint: Injecting drug use is a main route of transmission of hepatitis C. Needle exchange services, when provided with a range of other measures including the provision of information and advice about risk and accessible specialised drug treatment services, reduce the risk of transmission of hepatitis C and other blood borne virus infections, such as HIV infection. Needle exchange services are available in over 90 per cent. of local authorities in England. As part of the Department's Hepatitis C Action Plan for England, a national audit of needle exchange schemes is under way which will contribute to monitoring of provision and effectiveness.
	In the Burton constituency area, action has been taken to reduce the risks of transmission of hepatitis C through the provision of needle exchange services and other harm reduction services. The Staffordshire drug action team is working with other local partners, including general practitioners and primary care trusts, to develop an intervention strategy for ensuring that this provision remains effective for addressing local needs.

NHS Dentistry

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which dentists in the Portsmouth area are accepting new NHS (a) children and (b) adult patients.

Rosie Winterton: Information on which practices are currently taking on new national health service patients is not centrally collected. This information should be available from local primary care trusts or by contacting NHS Direct.

NHS Direct

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the 10 most common reasons for calls to NHS Direct in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: I understand from the Chair of NHS Direct that the 10 most common reasons for calls to NHS Direct where a clinical assessment had been conducted between April 2004 to March 2005 were: abdominal pain; toothache; chest pain; headache; diarrhoea; vomiting; toxic ingestion; fever (age one to four years); sore throat and rash (age one to four years).

NHS Direct

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of NHS Direct on staff recruitment in accident and emergency; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: There is no evidence to suggest that NHS Direct has an impact on recruitment in accident and emergency departments.

NHS Direct

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of NHS Direct on continuity of care; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: NHS Direct is now a multi channel organisation providing access to the service through the online website, digital television and the telephone service. This ensures that all sectors of the population have access to accredited health advice.
	During the out-of-hours period, NHS Direct is able to transfer patient information electronically to the out-of-hours provider to enable continuity of care, thus ensuring patients receive appropriate timely advice.

NHS Spending

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what amounts NHS spending was (a) above and (b) below planned levels in the financial year (i)200304, (ii) 200405 and (iii) 200506 to date; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The national health service plans to break even each year. In 200304 the NHS finished the year with a small surplus of 73 million.
	Unaudited figures for the financial year ending 200405, show that the NHS is likely to be in deficit by around 140 million, this represents a fraction of the total budget, at around 0.2 per cent. Audited information in respect of the 200405 financial position of all strategic health authorities (SHAs), primary care trusts (PCTs) and NHS trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts, and will be available centrally in autumn 2005.
	The financial position for 200506 will be available next year.

NHS Staff

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) vacancy rates and (b) full role calculations for (i) radiographer and (ii) consultant radiologist posts are in each hospital trust.

Liam Byrne: Information on vacancy rates and full-role calculations on three month vacancy rates for radiographer and consultant radiologist posts in each hospital trust has been placed in the Library. Vacancy rates for radiographers fell between March 2003 and March 2004. Vacancy rates for consultant radiologists fell between March 2002 and March 2004.

NHS Trusts (Finances)

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial position of each (a) primary care trust, (b) hospital trust and (c) other health service trust was at the end of the last financial year.

Liam Byrne: Information showing the position for 200304, the latest year for which audited data is available, has been placed in the Library.

Nurses

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses have finished training in Lancashire teaching hospitals in each of the last three years.

Liam Byrne: The responsibility for the training of nurses rests with higher education institutions rather than national health service trusts. Trusts do however provide clinical placements for student nurses and continuing professional development opportunities. This information is not collected centrally.

Nurses

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on (a) agency nurses and (b) bank nurses in Hull and East Riding (i) Hospitals NHS Trust and (ii) Community Health NHS Trust in each of the last three years.

Liam Byrne: The table shows expenditure on agency nurses in both the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust and the Hull and East Riding Community Health NHS Trust. Figures are not collected centrally for bank nurses.
	
		Expenditure on agency nurses ()
		
			  Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Hull and East Riding Community Health NHS Trust 
		
		
			 200102 309,187 281,161 
			 200203 551,525 923,245 
			 200304 566,582 1,468,029 
		
	
	Note:
	Agency nursesnon-NHS nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff
	Source:
	Annual financial returns of NHS trusts

Nurses

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS nurses left the Hull and East Riding (a) Hospitals NHS Trust and (b) Community Health NHS Trust in each of the past five years;
	(2)  how many nurses employed by Hull and East Riding (a) Hospitals NHS Trust and (b) Community Health NHS Trust were recruited from outside the United Kingdom.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Nutrition (Staff Training)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirements in respect of knowledge of nutrition and malnutrition are placed on registrants by each health and social care regulatory body.

Liam Byrne: It is the responsibility of the appropriate regulatory bodies that set standards for health and social care education and training to determine how much knowledge registrants require of specific health and social care issues such as nutrition and malnutrition. My hon. Friend may find it helpful to contact the regulatory bodies direct to obtain this information in respect to those health and social care professions about which he is interested.

Older People

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to establish a central information source about care for older people, as recommended in the Office of Fair Trading report, Care homes for older people in the UK.

Liam Byrne: The Office of Fair Trading published a report on care homes for older people on 18 May 2005. The report made a number of recommendations to the Government, which they are currently considering.

Older People

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of people over 75 years taking four or more medicines have their medicines reviewed at least every six months;
	(2)  what percentage of people over 75 years have their medicines reviewed at least annually.

Liam Byrne: The Department do not collect centrally the data requested.
	The national medicines management collaborative use medication reviews as measures for assessing improvements in patient care. They have monitored medication reviews for older people undertaken through general practitioner surgeries and also within care homes. Historic data for both measures, collected from the 146 primary care trusts taking part in the programme, suggest that there have been significant and sustained improvements in the number and quality of medication reviews.

Outpatient Appointments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many outpatient appointments were missed (a) in England and (b) in each NHS trust in the most recent year for which figures are available; how many appointments with a general practitioner were missed (i)in England and (ii) in each primary care trust in the most recent year for which figures are available; what proportion of the total number of appointments this represented in each case; and what estimate she has made of the cost to the NHS of such missed appointments.

Liam Byrne: The total number of missed outpatient appointments for the year 200405 in England was 5,707,288, or 11.3 per cent. Data for individual trusts are available in the Library.
	The Department has not made an estimate of the cost of such missed appointments. However, the new choose and book system, which is being implemented across the national health service will help give patients greater certainty and choice over the time and date of their hospital appointment and will help to reduce the number and cost of missed appointments.
	The Department does not collect data on the number of missed general practice appointments, but there is some evidence to suggest the number of missed appointments are falling.

PBDE

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to reduce exposure to the brominated flame retardant PBDE; and if she will make a statement on levels of this chemical in the bloodstream.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 27 June 2005
	The brominated flame retardant Pentabromodiphenyl ether (PBDE) has been banned in the European Union since 15 August 2004 under the EU's marketing and use directive for all uses, except for a temporary derogation until March 2006 for its use in aircraft emergency evacuation slides. This ban is implemented in Great Britain by Statutory Instrument 2004/3278 and in Northern Ireland by SI 2004/509.
	The Health Protection Agency is developing a programme of biomonitoring research on persistent organic chemicals.

Plano Lenses

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide support to individuals with reading difficulties who could benefit from using plano lenses; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Plano tinted lenses may be prescribed by the hospital eye service for patients who have a recognised clinical need for them.
	Although there are indications that some children and adults with reading difficulties may benefit from tinted lenses, these need to be provided as part of a proper scheme of assessment and treatment or many people could receive them unnecessarily.
	National health service help through optical vouchers is for people who, following a sight test, have been given a prescription to correct a defect of sight. Parents of children with reading difficulties are encouraged to have their sight tested by an optometrist to check that there are no refractive problems or eye disease which may be contributing to the difficulties. The NHS provides children under 16 with free sight tests at community opticians' premises.

Plano Lenses

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make plano lenses available to those with multiple sclerosis; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Plano tinted lenses may be prescribed by the hospital eye service for patients who have a recognised clinical need for them. These lenses could be prescribed to help someone with multiple sclerosis, if this was felt to be necessary.

Primary Care

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much she expects Milton Keynes primary care trust to overspend in the 200506 financial year.

Caroline Flint: The financial plans for 200506 have not yet been finalised, but national health service organisations are expected to plan to live within their revenue resource, capital resource and cash limits each and every year.

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (Stanmore)

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the plans to redevelop the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore.

Jane Kennedy: The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital National Health Service Trust is currently progressing their proposals to redevelop the hospital. The 121 million scheme is a single-phase development of modern, purpose built, facilities linked to the provision of a new clinical service model, involving the re-provision of buildings that are more than 60 years old. The scheme will provide:
	A modern, patient-focused environment for the continued delivery of clinical services.
	Educational and research excellence and a secure future for an NHS centre of excellence, working in partnership with a top performing university.
	A protected elective facility, designed to meet the needs of neuro-musculoskeletal patients, and focused on continued throughput of non-emergency cases.
	The scheme will also release surplus land for housing and re-investment of the proceeds into health services.
	It is anticipated that the outline business case will be considered by the North Central London Strategic Health Authority in September this year.

Schizophrenia

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) 50 to 64-year-olds, (b) 65 to 74-year-olds and (c) over 75-year-olds were diagnosed with schizophrenia in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: Information is not available in the requested format. Information on the number of live discharges with a primary psychiatric diagnosis of schizophrenia of people aged 50 to 64 years, 65 to 74 years and over 75 years at the end of episode in each of the last five years is shown in the table.
	Live discharges with a primary psychiatric diagnosis of schizophrenia (ICD-10 1 ), England, by age at end of episode, 19992000 to 200304 2
	1 Diagnoses are made using chapter five (mental and behavioural disorders) of the 10threvision of the international classification of diseases (ICD-10). The relevant codes used here are F20 to F29: schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders.
	2 Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 200203, and 200304, which are not adjusted for shortfalls.
	
		
			  Age at end of episode 
			  50 to 64 years 65 to 74 years 75 years and over All live discharges 
		
		
			 200304(49) 5,330 1,860 1,510 32,540 
			 200203(49) 5,420 1,940 1,600 33,260 
			 200102 5,470 1,940 1,620 32,800 
			 200001 5,270 1,990 1,580 32,700 
			 19992000 5,400 2,160 1,700 34,120 
		
	
	(49)Figures are grossed for both coverage and missing/invalid clinical data, except for 200203 and 200304, which are not adjusted for shortfalls.
	Note:
	Disclosure rules apply due to the sensitive nature of the data; therefore, figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Drug Use)

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what research she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on whether there is a link between the use of illegal substances and the spread of sexually transmitted infections and diseases;
	(2)  what measures are in place to warn recreational drug users of the dangers of contracting sexually transmitted diseases while under the influence of substances.

Caroline Flint: The Department keeps all of its sexual health promotion work under review, taking account of emerging research evidence to ensure the effectiveness of health promotion messages, using the best means to reach our target audience.
	The Department commissioned the national addiction centre to review the evidence of harms associated with drugs of abuse and to summarise this in the Department's publication, Dangerousness of drugs, which was published in September 2003.
	This reports that a number of illicit drugs are associated with disinhibition and unsafe sexual practices including amyl nitrite and other nitrites, amphetamine type stimulants and novel synthetic drugs, such as MDMA/Ecstasy or GHB, opiates, benzodiazepines, volatile solvents, and that there is a possibility of high risk sexual behaviour in cocaine use.
	The Department is currently developing its major new media campaign to promote safer sex, and this will be firmly based on the evidence base. Primary care trusts are responsible for undertaking sexual health promotion which meets the needs of their local populations and the Department supports them in this work by publishing best practice guidance on sexual health promotion, which includes work with drug users, and commissioning services.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which areas of funding South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust is expected to reduce over the next three years; and what changes in staffing levels she expects as a result;
	(2)  if she will ensure (a) that the Friarage hospital in Northallerton is not closed and (b) that the accident and emergency ward at the Friarage hospital in Northallerton is not (i) reduced in size and (ii) closed as a result of the funding settlement for South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust over the next three years;
	(3)  what measures she has put in place to ensure that reductions in funding by South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust do not impact negatively on the standard of care provided to the people of North Yorkshire.

Liam Byrne: The South Tees Hospitals National Health Service Trust savings plan for 200506 was made public at a board meeting on 7 June 2005. The trust is conducting a major review of the costs of all its services to see where efficiencies can be achieved. Any proposals will be subject to full consultation. Of course, throughout this time patient care and safety remains paramount.
	Both the South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust and Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) are committed to securing the Friarage hospital's services for the future.
	Professor Ara Darzi's report on the Tees services review and its implications for the wider health economy, including the Friarage hospital, is due to be published shortly.

Stem Cell Research

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial commitment her Department plans to make to stem cell research in each year from 2005 to 2008.

Jane Kennedy: The Department funds stem cell research through allocations made annually to national health service providers for research and development to meet the priorities and needs of the NHS and to meet the costs to the NHS of hosting research supported by external funders. The total amount allocated to NHS providers in 200506 for research and development is 500 million.
	In the 2005 Budget, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the launch of the United Kingdom stem cell initiative. This high-level review will report by the time of the 2005 pre-Budget report and inform future investment by the Department in stem cell research.

Thimerosal

Tony Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether thimerosal is used in vaccines in the NHS; and what assessment she has made of whether there are health risks associated with it.

Jane Kennedy: The only licensed vaccines currently in routine use in the United Kingdom which contain in their formulation thiomersal, also known as thimerosal, are some influenza and some hepatitis A and B vaccines.
	As with all medicinal products, vaccine safety is continually monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with advice from the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM). The CSM and/or its expert working group on vaccine safety have thoroughly reviewed the safety of thiomersal-containing vaccines, including alleged links with neurodevelopmental disorders, and keep this under close review.
	Several large studies have found no evidence of a link between thiomersal-containing vaccines and neurodevelopmental disorders. The advice of CSM remains that there is no evidence of harm from the very small quantities of thiomersal contained in some vaccines, with the exception of possible allergic reactions, typically skin rashes or local swelling at the site of injection. This view concurs with that of the World Health Organisation, the United States Institute of Medicine and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

Treatment Overseas (E111 Form)

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures the Government have taken to alert British citizens to the fact that E111 forms issued before August 2004 have been invalid since 31 December 2004; how much has been spent on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) leaflets, (e) campaigns involving airlines and (f) other campaigns; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: A marketing campaign to inform the public about the changes to the E111 arrangements and the forthcoming introduction of the European Health Insurance Card is under way. This includes public information films and messages on television and radio using free airtime, press advertising, leaflets and other activities. Costs to date are:
	
		
			   
		
		
			 Television advertising 113,288 
			 Radio advertising 19,897 
			 Press advertising 677,836 
			 Leaflets 280,411 
			 Other activities 143,437

Tuberculosis

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed (a) in England and (b) in each region in each year since 1997.

Caroline Flint: The number of notifications of tuberculosis made to the Health Protection Agency by region since 1997 are shown in the table.
	
		Tuberculosis notifications by region, England, 19972004
		
			 Region 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(50) 
		
		
			 East Midlands 384 428 442 440 464 502 337 423 
			 East of England 232 268 228 254 326 333 341 417 
			 London 2,411 2,444 2,493 2,834 2,886 2,839 2,745 2,569 
			 North East 178 167 149 143 194 161 154 173 
			 North West 631 690 720 671 672 636 610 636 
			 South East 425 437 418 487 528 590 601 609 
			 South West 212 213 209 226 198 239 226 267 
			 West Midlands 610 673 712 723 692 789 797 870 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 581 595 567 601 611 538 572 616 
			 Total 5,664 5,915 5,938 6,379 6,571 6,627 6,383 6,580 
		
	
	(50)Provisional figures.
	Source:
	Statutory notifications of infectious diseases.

Tuberculosis

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received (a) BCG immunisations and (b) related skin tests in each of the last 24 months.

Caroline Flint: The number of people who have received bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG) vaccination and related skin tests are published annually in the Department's statistical bulletin, NHS Immunisation Statistics, England.
	The number of BCG vaccinations and skin tests given in 200203 can be found in NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 200203. Copies are available in the Library, and on the Department's website at: www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0316.htm.
	The number of BCG vaccinations and skin tests given in 200304 can be found in NHS Immunisation Statistics, England: 200304. Copies are available in the Library, and on the Department's website at: www.publications.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0416.htm.

Tuberculosis

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the availability is of (a) magnetic Heaf heads and (b) purified protein derivative solution required to carry out skin tests prior to BCG vaccinations; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Due to manufacturing constraints adult and paediatric heaf test heads are available on a limited basis.
	Mantoux strength purified protein derivative for skin testing prior to receiving bacillus calmette-guerin (BCG) vaccination is available.

Vacancies (Accident and Emergency)

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff vacancies there are in Accident and Emergency departments in each NHS trust; and what percentage of the complement this represents in each case.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Work Placements

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether she plans to make payments to students while on work placements within the NHS.

Liam Byrne: A national health service bursary is provided for students on NHS funded courses. The bursary covers the living costs and provides other allowances for students during their course, which includes periods on clinical placement.